The advice that surprised Pope Leo XIV before assuming the pontificate

Hours before Robert Prevost became the new Pope, his brother John shared an unexpected anecdote: he had warned him to avoid a name he considered unlucky. However, the then-cardinal ignored the advice and surprised his family by announcing himself as Leo XIV.

John Prevost, brother of the new pontiff and former director of a Catholic school, revealed that he received a call from his brother before the historic white smoke. In that conversation, the future Pope asked him for suggestions on the name he might adopt if he were elected.

The conversation before the conclave and an unexpected piece of advice

"We started throwing out names just for the sake of it," he told the Daily Herald. When the idea of "Leo" came up, John warned him not to use it, mistakenly believing he would be Pope Leo XIII, a number he considered a bad omen. In reality, Robert would be XIV. "He must have researched and saw it was XIV," he later acknowledged with humor.

Despite that warning, the choice of name surprised even his brother. "I was as surprised as everyone when they said his name," he confessed. At that moment, he was talking to his niece, daughter of his other brother, Louis. "Then the phone, the iPad, and my cell phone exploded," he recalled with laughter.

A life dedicated to faith... and baseball

John Prevost assured that since childhood, he and his brothers knew what they wanted to be. In Robert's case, his religious vocation was evident from a young age. "A neighbor once said that one day he would be Pope. How about that prediction?" he recalled in statements to ABC7.

Besides his commitment to the Church, the new Pope is passionate about baseball and a fan of the Chicago White Sox. That passion set him apart from his mother, who was a fan of the local rivals, the Chicago Cubs. He also confessed in 2023 his fondness for tennis, although he lamented not having time to play it since taking on duties at the Vatican.

In an interview with the official site of the Augustinian Order, after being appointed by Francis as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, he stated: "I consider myself an amateur tennis player... but I haven't been able to play since I left Peru."

Challenges and expectations for Leo XIV's pontificate

The election of Leo XIV caused great expectations both inside and outside the Church. Among the most urgent challenges are the inclusion of women in ecclesiastical roles, the policy on sexual abuse, and the Church's stance on international conflicts.

His closeness to Latin America —after years of mission in Peru— and his pastoral style are reminiscent of his predecessor, Francis. In April 2025, speaking to Vatican News, he stated: "We can't stop, we can't go back. We have to see how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be today and tomorrow."

During his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope called to "build bridges" with "dialogue, without fear, united and holding God's hand". 

In the coming weeks, definitions of his agenda are expected. It is projected that he will prioritize topics such as interreligious dialogue and strengthening a synodal Church, following the line set by Francis.