John Prevost, younger brother of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, proudly displays a portrait of himself and his two brothers from 1958. The image captures Pope Leo at 3 years old on the left, John at 4, and Louis at 7. This heartfelt moment took place at Prevost’s residence in New Lenox, Illinois, on May 8, as captured by Obed Lamy of the Associated Press.
Following his groundbreaking appointment as the first American Pope, Pope Leo XIV, a native of Illinois, is looking forward to reuniting with his siblings in Rome. His brother, John Prevost, will be by his side to commemorate this momentous occasion for both the Catholic Church and the city of Chicago.
The historic election of Pope Leo took place during the 2025 papal conclave, marking him as the first American-born Pope in the church’s history. His childhood home, which was listed for sale under $250K, gained new significance on the day of his election.
This upcoming reunion in Rome will be John Prevost’s fifth visit to the Italian capital, with two of those trips made in the company of his brother, now serving as the global leader of the Catholic Church. Despite the distance, Prevost shared the news of his impending visit with Pope Leo in a brief phone conversation.
Reflecting on his brother’s momentous achievement, Prevost expressed a mix of pride and awareness of the weight of the responsibilities that come with the papacy. He remarked on the significance of Pope Leo’s role as the first American and first from Chicago to hold this esteemed position.
As for their plans during the visit, Prevost mentioned that much is still undecided, with plans for lunch and sightseeing with the Pope in the works. However, his stay in Rome is limited, and he does not intend to remain for Pope Leo’s formal installation.
