Ever wondered what it’s like for the family of a priest, bishop or even a pope when their loved one assumes such a weighty spiritual office?
For the Prevost family, that once-distant question became an astonishing reality on May 8, when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
In a brief exchange with CBS News monitored by Catholic Trends, Louis Prevost, brother to the new pope, shared a deeply personal and honest glimpse into how the family received the news and what it means for their relationship going forward.
“He’s Pope now. I can’t just pick up the phone and call him,” Louis said, acknowledging the emotional shift that comes with his brother’s new global role. “He won’t have the luxury of just coming home and spending time with us like he used to. Security arrangements and the weight of his office will definitely change how we relate.”
For Louis, who has known “Rob” his entire life, not as a pontiff, but as a brother, confidant, and family man, the change is surreal. He spoke with affection and humour, highlighting the personal side of the man now entrusted with leading over a billion Catholics worldwide.
“It’s incredible that my brother was elected pope,” he said, smiling. “He’s a great guy, and he has the experience for this. But to me, he’s still Rob. I will continue to call him Rob till the day I die, unless somebody from over there says, ‘You can’t call him that anymore. You have to call him by his new name.’ And I’ll still be like, how can you stop 70+ years of calling somebody Rob, your brother, you know?”
Though the papacy brings with it ceremonial formality, global responsibility, and a new name, for the family that raised him, Pope Leo XIV will always be the same person they knew before the white cassock, before the Vatican guards, before the world’s attention turned to Rome.
“We’re proud of him, absolutely,” Louis said, “but there’s a bit of sadness too, not because of who he’s become, but because it means we’ll have to love him a little more from afar.”
As the world celebrates the election of Pope Leo XIV, Louis Prevost’s heartfelt words remind us that behind every robe and mitre is a son, a brother, and a friend, whose family is adjusting to a new kind of closeness, one rooted in prayer, pride, and a deep, quiet sacrifice.
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