John Prevost gives interview marking 100 days of his brother’s pontificate

Pope Leo’s brother, John Prevost, has given a wide-ranging interview about the first 100 days of the new pontificate, which will be broadcast Friday evening.

The interview, with NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, was announced Aug. 14 and comes on the heels of a Gallup poll showing Pope Leo is the most favorable among 14 American and world leaders.

“What people don’t know is that he’s taking this very seriously,” Prevost said in a clip video released ahead of the full interview. “It may not look … You see him enjoying himself, but this is quite a burden on his shoulders, and he’s praying for the world.”

That said, Prevost, a retired principal of a Catholic school, added that his brother does seem to enjoy being Pope despite the great responsibility.

“He seems to be enjoying it. It’s like [he] is a natural,” Prevost told NBC 5 Chicago.

Prevost also talked about his brother’s relationship with Pope Francis, saying, “They were very good friends.”

Father Ray Flores, pastor of St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox, Illinois, also joined Prevost for the interview. In one of the clips that has been released, he spoke about Pope Leo’s message to attendees at the Jubilee for Youth.

“[Pope Leo] said, you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and that you can be a sign that's different to the world,” Fr. Flores recalled.

The full interview will be broadcast on NBC 5 Chicago Friday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.