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By Jordan King
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Pope Leo XIV is "not happy with what's going on with immigration," his brother John Prevost has said.
Prevost made the comments to The New York Times while explaining that he did not expect his sibling to stay quiet about something he believed in.
On Thursday, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a missionary turned Vatican official who spent much of his career ministering in Peru—was elected pope, becoming the first American to hold the role in the church's 2,000-year history. The Illinois native, who is 69 and a member of the Augustinian religious order, chose the papal name Leo XIV.
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Why It Matters
Leo XIV's public life and background suggest he may continue Pope Francis' emphasis on social justice, particularly regarding migration and the rights of the poor.
Describing his brother, Prevost told the Times, "The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis' footsteps. They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was pope, before my brother even was bishop."
Earlier this year, Francis criticized President Donald Trump's administration over its hard-line immigration agenda, which includes mass deportations.
What To Know
Prevost, who calls the new pope "Rob," described his brother's politics as being in the "middle of the road," adding, "I don't think we'll see extremes either way."
However, he said he didn't believe the new pope would "stay quiet for too long if he has something to say."
"I know he's not happy with what's going on with immigration," Prevost continued. "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," he added.
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Leo XIV's social media activity prior to his election shows criticism of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
On February 13, he posted a link to an article published by America, a Jesuit review, with the headline "Pope Francis' letter, JD Vance's 'ordo amoris' and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration."
On April 14, he reposted a message from X user Rocco Palmo, who wrote: "As Trump & Bukele use Oval to Feds' illicit deportation of a US resident, once an undoc-ed Salvadorean himself, now-DC Aux +Evelio asks, 'Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?'"
What People Are Saying
John Prevost told The New York Times: "[Pope Leo XIV] has great, great desire to help the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, the people who are ignored."
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Thursday: "Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I'm sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!"
What Happens Next
Leo XIV's authority began immediately after being selected as the new pope. It remains to be seen how closely he will follow in his predecessor's footsteps, or whether he will take the church in a different direction.
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