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But on May 8, the 69-year-old stunned the world when he emerged from the papal conclave as the new leader of the Catholic Church — now known as Pope Leo XIV.

The workers Pope?

While some insiders had floated his name as a possible successor to Pope Francis, many believed others were more likely to be chosen. But Leo XIV’s election wasn’t the only surprise — his choice of name has sparked even more curiosity.

The last pope to use the name Leo was Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903 and was known as “the social pope” for championing workers’ rights and standing up for the poor. Some say Leo XIV’s name choice signals his intention to carry on that legacy — leaning into bridge-building and solidarity.

While the Vatican has remained cautious about revealing the new pope’s stance on major political issues, the signs are already emerging. He has reposted tweets criticizing Donald Trump, condemned Vice President JD Vance’s interpretation of Christianity, and made strong statements in his first sermon about “violations of human dignity” and society’s obsession with “technology, money, success, power [or] pleasure.”

A retired school principal

Now, one of the people closest to him — his own brother — is speaking out.

John Prevost, Pope Leo’s older brother and a retired Catholic school principal, recently sat down with The New York Times and offered rare personal insights into the man now leading the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

“I don’t think we’ll see extremes either way,” John said, describing Leo as someone who takes a centrist approach.

But one sensitive and pressing issue — both globally and in his home country of the U.S. — might just be enough to make the Pope speak out forcefully.

”I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”

Hobbies

That view echoes comments made by Pope Francis himself, who in 2016 took a sharp jab at then-candidate Trump over his proposed border wall: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the gospel.”

Francis also condemned Trump’s mass-deportation plans, saying they were an attack on the “dignity of many men and women.”

As for Leo XIV, his first mass as pontiff made clear he intends to take action. He emphasized the importance of faith and missionary work, while calling out human rights abuses and global inequality.

And when he’s not tackling some of the world’s biggest moral crises? Well, according to John, he’s got a few unexpected hobbies too — like watching the film Conclave in his downtime.

A regular guy

“He’s just a regular guy,” John shared, adding that while Leo takes his faith seriously, he still finds time to enjoy life. The two remain close and often discuss everything from movies to theology.

Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova University graduate from 1977, is also big sports fan. He cheered for the Chicago White Sox at the 2005 World Series and enjoys playing tennis, although he hasn’t had much time for it lately. He also supports the Peruvian soccer team Alianza Lima.

While the world waits to see exactly how Pope Leo XIV will lead the Church, one thing is becoming clear: behind the formal robes and ancient rituals is a man with deeply held convictions — and a family that knows he’s ready to speak out when it matters most.

With rising political tensions, deep divides on immigration, and a shifting global Church, the real question remains — how far is this American-born pope willing to go? And are world leaders, especially those in Washington, ready for what he might say next