Others commented with similar amazement: “He went to Villanova? He plays Wordle? He’s just a regular guy—wild, but awesome!” Another joked, “I bet the internal Slack at Wordle is losing it right now.”
Pope Leo’s personal history also adds a humanizing touch. John revealed that before entering seminary school straight after eighth grade, his younger brother had a typical childhood—including enjoying driving during summer breaks. In fact, John told CBS Chicago that Robert often played "priest" as a child, which now seems like a telling sign of his future path.
The family, like the rest of the world, found out about his election via live television. “My niece screamed,” John recalled. “And I was just in shock—like, ‘Wait, is this real?’ It was disbelief, pride, and a big ‘what now?’ moment all at once.”
Now that his brother is the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics, John recognizes the gravity of the position. “People will be watching him—and probably us—closer than ever before.”
Still, John is confident that Pope Leo XIV will carry on the compassionate legacy of Pope Francis, especially his dedication to helping the poor and marginalized.
