People are amazed after Pope Leo XIV’s brother revealed the surprising and relatable ways the first American pope spends his free time.
Pope Leo XIV’s historic election as the first American pope has captured global attention.
His surprisingly relatable habits have also taken many by surprise.
As the world learns about Cardinal Prevost, many are surprised he shares more common traits with ordinary people than expected.
Pope Leo’s brother reveals surprising hobbies of first American pontiff in spare time
From the Vatican balcony to playing word games.
Just hours after white smoke appeared, the 267th pope greeted the world from St. Peter’s Basilica balcony, marking a historic moment.
Behind the solemn expression and ancient ritual stood a surprisingly down-to-earth man.
According to his brother, the pope relaxes with Wordle and Words With Friends, surprising and amusing many online.
John Prevost, the pontiff’s brother and a retired Catholic school principal, shared their recent conversation with NBC News.
He said: “First we do Wordle, because this is a regular thing OK, then we do Words With Friends. It’s something to keep his mind off life in the real world.
Humor, movies, and socks ease the papal transition.
As the brothers chatted ahead of the conclave, the mood was surprisingly light.
“I asked him if he had his red socks,” John laughed, recalling a running family joke.
He also teased the future pope about whether he’d watched Conclave, a film dramatizing papal elections.
To his delight, Robert had indeed seen the movie, and jokingly noted that he was now well-prepared for the job.
“And then we talked about what’s going on and I said, ‘Well, do you have your red socks?’ That doesn’t go over well all the time,” he joked.
“And I said, ‘Well, are you ready for this? Did you watch the movie Conclave so you know how to behave?’
And he had just finished watching the movie Conclave,” John added with a laugh, “So he knew how to behave.”
The humor wasn’t just for fun — it was a way to ground the monumental moment. “I wanted him to laugh,” John explained. “This role carries huge weight, and a little laughter helps.”
Childhood experiences hint at Pope’s future calling.
John also revealed that his brother’s spiritual journey didn’t come out of nowhere.
Even as a child, Robert was drawn to religious life. “He used to play priest when we were little,” John recalled.
Though he also loved driving during his teenage years, his commitment to the Church was evident early on.
Despite spending much of his adult life as a missionary in Peru, Robert’s family remained important to him.
Even now, as pope, they continue to play a significant role in his life.
Pope’s family learns of the election by watching national TV.
When the name Prevost was announced from the Vatican balcony, the family didn’t receive a private call.
Instead, they learned to live on television, alongside millions of viewers.
John recalled the exact moment: “[My niece] screamed, and I thought, ‘Oh wow, this is really happening.’”
The sense of pride, awe, and disbelief washed over the family as the reality began to settle.
He said: “Shock. Disbelief. A whole lot of pride. A whole lot of, ‘is this for real? Now what are we gonna do?’ That kind of stuff, because this is an awesome responsibility that we have to live up to, that he has to live up to.”
As Pope Leo XIV steps into the shoes of Peter, his brother believes his mission will echo that of his predecessor.
“He’s passionate about the poor, the forgotten, the marginalized — just like Pope Francis,” John said, expressing confidence that Leo will continue that legacy.