The Roman Pontiff's oldest brother granted a special interview to Spanish daily ABC speaking about his brother and also his thoughts on the President of the United States.
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"Trump and My Brother Leo XIV Have More in Common Than People Think"
On the first anniversary of the Pope's election, Louis Prevost says the Pontiff's strength is his ability to get people talking — "even if some see that as a weakness"
He had been sick for days, but when he heard the words Habemus Papam from his home, Louis Prevost leapt out of bed. "I was instantly cured. Maybe that was his first miracle," he jokes. A year after the conclave that made his younger brother Robert Francis — "Rob," at home — into Leo XIV, this U.S. Navy veteran living in Florida carries a title that fits nowhere in Vatican protocol: the Pope's MAGA brother. Donald Trump praised him in the very same post in which he harshly attacked the Pontiff in April, and has invited him to Mar-a-Lago. Louis does not hide his political views and is not bothered by the label, but he naturally puts his brother first: "I think Trump and Leo XIV have more in common than most people think," he says in this interview with ABC, with the quiet pride of someone who knows them both.
I was lying in bed, feeling under the weather. My wife Deborah alerted me about the white smoke, and I turned on the TV in the bedroom. When Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the Habemus Papam and said his name — "Roberto" — I thought there must be another cardinal with the same name. Then he added "Francisco," and I realized he was talking about my brother. I jumped out of bed, ran to the living room, turned on the big TV, and went absolutely crazy with excitement and joy. The illness disappeared on the spot. Maybe that was his first miracle — he says, laughing.
Did you think he might be elected?
It seemed unlikely to me, though even then I thought he was the best-qualified candidate, knowing his background and the experiences he had lived through in Peru and as a prior before being named a cardinal.
What did you talk about before the conclave?
The night before it began, my brother John and I were teasing him about the possibility that he could be the next Pope — but none of us actually thought he was going to be elected. He was young, and he was American.
How long did it take before you were able to speak with the new Pope?
It took a few days. The question was whether we should travel to Rome for the inauguration ceremony. On one hand, I was still recovering; on the other, it would have been difficult for him to find time to spend with us. So we decided to stay home. Later, Vice President J.D. Vance invited us to join his delegation. It was the trip of a lifetime, as you can imagine.
Will you be sending Leo XIV a gift for the anniversary?
We sent him a box of Christmas gifts that he still has not received. So we are not sending anything else. When we go to Rome to see him, we will bring something.
Has your brother changed much since then?
Nothing has changed — he is still my little brother. We talk at least once a week to catch up. Sometimes we touch on current events and his plans, both short-term and long-term. We even manage to tell each other jokes. I do not expect him to change, and I do not think he needs to.
Has he told you he will be coming to Spain in a few weeks?
Yes, he mentioned it to me a few days ago, but did not give me any details.
His priority has been promoting reconciliation and reducing polarization in public life. What do you expect from his second year?
He will continue on that same path. Looking ahead to his second year, I see him continuing his work of bringing people together, fostering harmony throughout the world, working for peace, putting an end to current conflicts, and preventing new ones from breaking out. If he can get people talking to one another, there will be less violence in society. Some might see that as a weakness, but it is a strength.
How has your family's life changed since the election?
There have been many positive aspects, along with a few challenges. After the conclave, the governor called to congratulate us and also to warn us that our lives would change in ways we were probably not prepared for. In our daily lives, we now have to be constantly on guard. When people recognize us, they shake our hands because we are the Pope's family. Others try to befriend us hoping to gain special access to Leo XIV or to ask him for favors. Overall, it has been a positive experience with only a few challenges. We are now more cautious and more attentive when we leave the house, often with additional security measures. But beyond that, we have met President Donald Trump and many members of his team at the White House — and have even become friends with them. In fact, he invited us to his home at Mar-a-Lago.
President Trump mentioned you in an April post in which he was otherwise criticizing your brother — saying he likes you better. Does politics divide you?
I understand my brother's point of view, and I can say in all sincerity that we occasionally disagree on politics or government policies — but never to the point of getting angry with each other. We agree to disagree and keep on laughing and enjoying life. As I said before, I like to consider President Trump a friend.
Do you think Donald Trump could have been a bit more restrained in his comments?
He is always very direct and straightforward — that is just who he is. But I do not believe there is any real animosity between President Trump and the Pope. I hope that someday, soon, the two of them can sit down together, talk, and get to know each other better. Knowing them both, I think they have more in common than most people think.
