Pope Leo XIV’s brother has lifted the lid on what the brand new pontiff will get as much as in his downtime — and it typically includes enjoying video games like Phrases With Associates or Wordle along with his buddies.
On Thursday, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney — signaling that the School of Cardinals had chosen a successor to Pope Francis.
After Pope Leo XIV — born Robert Francis Prevost — greeted crowds at St. Peter’s Sq. within the Vatican, his brother John Prevost supplied a glimpse into the brand new Catholic chief’s easy pleasures.
“I haven’t had a second to consider it. But it surely’s completely unreal, completely surreal, and it’s an incredible, great factor to soak up, however it’s one thing to be very pleased with,” Prevost instructed NBC Chicago.
He revealed that he had spoken to the brand new pontiff proper earlier than the conclave, and stated the pair typically play Wordle and Phrases with Associates collectively.
“It’s one thing to maintain his thoughts off of life in the actual world,” he stated. “After which we speak about what’s occurring.”
Prevost stated that he had requested if his brother had watched the Hollywood blockbuster “Conclave” earlier than the beginning of the papal summit to “know how one can behave.”
“I stated, ‘Nicely, are you prepared for this?’” Prevost stated, revealing that his brother had “simply completed” watching the movie.
“So it’s that type of stuff, as a result of I needed to take his thoughts off of it, chuckle about one thing, as a result of that is now an superior duty,” he added.
The Ralph Fiennes-led film was launched simply months earlier than Pope Francis died in April at age 88.
About 80% of cardinals who had participated on this 12 months’s vote have been appointed by Pope Francis, that means a majority had by no means skilled a conclave earlier than.
The 2024 movie – directed by Edward Berger and primarily based on a 2016 Robert Harris novel – was completely researched, and a few cardinals who beforehand skilled a conclave described the film as an extraordinarily correct portrayal of the actual ritual.
The Cardinals have been pressured to give up their digital gadgets earlier than they have been sequestered within the Sistine Chapel for 2 days of voting.
Elsewhere, Prevost revealed that he had a “slight feeling” his brother would grow to be the primary American pope — although Leo himself was uncertain.
“He didn’t assume so,” Prevost stated. “I type of did, as a result of what I used to be studying and what I used to be listening to that there have been three excellent candidates that have been in first, second and third place. The Cardinal from the Philippines, the Secretary of State and him.”
After listening to that his brother had good odds of being the following pope, Prevost’s optimism grew, although he remained a tad skeptical.
“I don’t understand how true it’s, however one of many clergymen at Windfall over there in New Lenox stated to me, ‘the chances in Las Vegas are 18-to-1 that it’s going to your brother,’” Prevost stated.
“I didn’t imagine it, and Rob didn’t imagine it. I ought to say, Pope Leo didn’t imagine it in any respect, as a result of there’s not going to be an American pope was the angle.”
The brand new pontiff’s Chicago roots sparked a pleasant rivalry Thursday, as town’s two main baseball groups — the Cubs and the White Sox — playfully competed over which aspect may declare him as a fan.
After the official social media account for the Cubs claimed that Pope Leo was a fan, his brother was pressured to set the file straight.
“They’d it flawed. He’s Sox,” he instructed the outlet. “The radio introduced Cubs, and that’s not true.”
The White Sox shortly embraced the information, writing on X, “Nicely, would you take a look at that… Congratulations to Chicago’s personal Pope Leo XIV.”
“Household at all times is aware of greatest, and it feels like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a bit nearer to thirty fifth and Shields,” the crew stated in a follow-up assertion. “Some issues are larger than baseball, and on this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented on the Vatican.”
“A pinstripes White Sox jersey along with his title on it and a hat already are on the best way to Rome, and naturally, the Pontiff at all times is welcome at his ballpark,” they added.
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