Pope Leo XIV played Wordle and watched 'Conclave' ahead of papal elections, his brother says
The brother of Pope Leo XIV said that ahead of the conclave, the soon-to-be pontiff played word games with him and watched the 2024 award-winning movie Conclave.
In an interview with NBC Chicago, John Prevost was asked about the conversation he had with his brother Robert Francis Prevost before the latter went to the May 7 conclave, where he was ultimately elected to lead the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.
"First, we do Wordle, because this is a regular thing. Then we do Words with Friends. It's something to keep his mind off life in the real world," John said.
He noted that they talked about "what's going on" and then recalled asking Pope Leo, "Well, do you have your red socks?"
"That doesn't go over well all the time. And then just that kind of stuff," he added.
John also said he asked his brother about being "ready for this," referring to the papal elections.
"I said, 'Did you watch the movie Conclave, so you know how to behave?'" he said of the movie that depicted the process in which cardinals are locked in seclusion as they vote for the next pope. The movie, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, also depicted high-level power games and backstabbing among the red-robed clerics.
"And he had just finished watching the movie Conclave. So he knew how to behave," John said of Pope Leo.
John noted that their conversations ahead of the conclave were meant to "take his mind off of it."
"You know, laugh about something, because this is now an awesome responsibility," he said.
'He didn't think so'
John also told NBC Chicago that he thought he had a "slight feeling" about Pope Leo's election as the first American pope, but the latter was doubtful.
"He didn't think so. I kind of did," he said, noting that reports of three outstanding candidates indicated the "Cardinal from the Philippines," referring to Luis Antonio Tagle, the "Secretary of State," referring to Italian Pietro Parolin, and Pope Leo.
He said their eldest brother, Louis Prevost, also had "good odds" in Las Vegas that Pope Leo was going to become pope.
"I don't know how true it is, but one of the priests at Providence over there in New Lenox said to me, 'The odds in Las Vegas are 18-to-1 that it's going to your brother,'" John said.
John also recalled Pope Leo's maturity, that he's the one giving him and Louis advice.
"It's usually the other way around, he gives the advice to us," he said.
In any case, he gave Pope Leo a piece of advice on becoming pope: "Be yourself."
'I knew right away'
Louis, meanwhile, told ABC7 News that he was lying in bed with his wife when they learned about the white smoke billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.
"So, I turned the TV on, watched it, and it took almost an hour," Louis said.
He noted that when Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti mentioned the name Roberto, the Latin for Robert, he was aware it's his younger brother.
"I knew right away," Louis said. "If I had not been in bed, standing up, I might have collapsed, because it's like (gasping gesture)."
"Totally unexpected, you know," he added.
Louis also recalled his childhood with John and Pope Leo.
"I used to raise Cain with my two younger brothers all the time, but he (Pope Leo) was always the holy one," he said. "We used to tease him, 'You're gonna be Pope someday. You're too holy.'"
And when Robert entered the seminary, it was a pleasant surprise for their family.
Louis noted that when Robert became a cardinal in 2024, he said their past joke seemingly had a chance of becoming a reality.
"This could happen. Holy cow," he said.
Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Pope
Robert, who chose the name Pope Leo XIV, is the 267th pope following the passing of Pope Francis, who served for 12 years, from March 2013 until his death last April.
He made history as the first American pope and the first Augustinian pope.
Pope Leo XIV has attracted interest from his peers because of his quiet style and support for Francis, especially his commitment to social justice issues. Get to know the new pope here.
