John Presor knew that his brother was prone to be elected Pope.
“Final Saturday, once I was within the church, one of many clergymen got here and advised me that the probabilities of Las Vegas have been 18 to 1,” says Mr. Presstos, who lives within the suburban Chicago. “He had little question. He thought he would undoubtedly be my brother.”
However Cardinal Robert Francis Presses, who was getting ready for the conclave, tossed it when his greater brother known as Illinois.
“He mentioned,” There isn’t a approach, it won’t occur, “recalled Presses, 71 -year -old, who was retired by a profession as a trainer and director of the college.
In fact, it occurred. Cardinal Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, the primary American Pontiff. And for his family and friends again to Illinois, the place the Pope grew up, every thing is totally different.
In a large -ranging interview on Thursday afternoon at his house in New Lenox, a 27,000 individuals organized a metropolis of about 40 miles southwest of the middle of Chicago, John Presseg thinks about climbing his brother to the papacy, the values ​​of the brand new Pope and his American roots.
Leo, whom G -n Prevost is accustomed to calling a slave, “has a terrific want to assist the oppressed and the despondent, the people who find themselves ignored,” says G -N -Relaxation. He predicts that his brother will proceed the legacy of his predecessor Pope Francis.
“The easiest way I might describe it proper now could be that he’ll comply with in Francis’ footsteps,” mentioned G -n Prevost. “They have been superb buddies. They knew one another earlier than he was a pope earlier than my brother was even a bishop.”
Presses mentioned he often spoke on the cellphone together with his brother each night time, however he hadn’t talked to him for the reason that starting of the conclave. He mentioned the brand new pope was “actually easy. He will not exit for consuming with 19 programs.” Final August, Presses mentioned, his brother stayed with him at his house in New Lenox for a number of weeks.
The brothers grew up in Dolton, Illinois, simply exterior Chicago, and attended a church and faculty within the parish “St. Mary of the Assumption” on the south aspect of Chicago. Their father Louis Presses was a faculty chief, and their mom Mildred Presse was a librarian who was deeply concerned within the parish life. Along with John and Robert, now Leo, the translations had one other son who now lives in Florida.
The long run Pope left Illinois to go to Michigan Excessive Faculty and Faculty in Pennsylvania, however returned to his postgraduate house and for varied publications with the Augusti, the non secular order he joined. Leo additionally spent a lot of his profession in Peru.
John Presor outlined Pope Leo because the “center of the highway” and mentioned, “I do not assume we’ll see extremes in each approach.” However, he mentioned, his brother won’t be afraid to make use of this new platform.
“I do not assume it can stay quiet for too lengthy if there’s something to say,” mentioned Mr. Presses. “I do know he’s not glad with what is going on with immigration. I do know this for a truth. How far he’ll go together with him is simply the belief, however he won’t sit merely. I do not assume it is going to be silent.”
Requested if his brother had expressed his want to be Pope, he mentioned “actually not.” However over the time when he climbed the ranks of the church, his reply to this query had begun to shift.
“It was” completely not, completely not, God forbid, “mentioned Mr. Presse. “After which it occurred,” Properly, if that is what God desires, then we’ll take care of Him. “
Thursday was a blurring of G -n Prevost, whose cellphone was consistently ranging throughout an interview and whose avenue was lined with information vans.
“I noticed that individuals have been , as a result of it was the primary in so some ways,” mentioned Mr. Presses.
Requested what his mother and father, who died years in the past, he mentioned, he mentioned, “They are going to be in cloud 9. Completely superb. You may’t even dream of it.”
When he’s lastly capable of attain his brother, he mentioned he plans to ask what he would do for leisure and whether or not he could be out of labor in any respect. He mentioned he hoped to see him in Rome, however nonetheless did not know the way he would work.
Within the quick neighborhood, nonetheless, there was one vital truth to clear. The pope, mentioned G -n Prevost, will not be a fan of Chicago cubes, as some reported. He has at all times cheered on the white sox.
