New pope, who dis?
Pope Leo XIV’s initial phone conversation with his brother following his historic election as the first American pope was inadvertently broadcast by a reporter, capturing the pontiff teasing his brother about the “two hours” of missed calls.
John Prevost, the 69-year-old pope’s elder sibling, was being visited by Associated Press journalist Obed Lamey at his New Lenox, Ill., home on Thursday when he noticed multiple missed calls on his iPad from his brother in Rome, as shown in the amusing video.
“Oh, he’s called for two hours already,” a disconcerted John said.
He then calls back the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on speaker phone, who promptly answers his big brother’s call.
“Well, why don’t you answer your phone?” Pope Leo said, with an accent befitting a New Lenox neighbor, before John could say anything.
“First, you should know you’re live on air right now. This has been happening since 11 a.m.,” John told the silence. “This is the first time I’m hearing this thing rang. And we are being filmed and recorded.”
“Right now?” Leo asked.
“Right this very minute,” his brother replied.
The audio then cuts off, but the video shows John casually laughing at a remark made by Pope Leo.
Lamy characterized the history-making chat he witnessed as a shockingly normal conversation between brothers.
The elder Prevost said the ascension of his sibling — formally known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — to the papacy is somewhat bittersweet.
He explained that the two brothers were daily communicants — even regularly playing online word games over the iPad — but that will all change with the extensive responsibilities bestowed upon Leo.
The communication hindrances are sure to be exacerbated by the seven-hour time difference between Rome and the Windy City — though John told the AP he plans on visiting the Eternal City to see his brother at his new job.
The family chat marks one of the first times the first American Pope was heard speaking English.
After choosing not to speak in his native tongue at his announcement — opting for Italian, Spanish and Latin — Pope Leo XIV said part of his first papal mass in English in the Sistine Chapel.
“You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the Good News, to announce the Gospel,” Leo said in English, his Chicago accent not entirely absent.
