CHICAGO (WLS) — A Southwest Side priest is sharing fond memories of his time with Cardinal Robert Prevost at seminary school.
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Father William Lego from St. Turibius recalled an encounter with Cardinal Robert Prevost back in 1966. For the following twenty years, they dedicated themselves to their education in pursuit of the priesthood.
Father Lego said when his old classmate was proclaimed the next pope, he wasn’t surprised.
“I thought it would happen because we’ve been classmates for a long time, and he is very capable,” Lego said.
Both hailing from Chicago, Father Lego and Robert Prevost were schoolmates at St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan, as well as at Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
“Always very studious,” Lego shared. “He has a sense of humor at times.”
As Father Lego reflected, their paths diverged in the early 1980s: Prevost pursued further studies in Rome, while Lego remained in Chicago.
Although he says it’s been many years since they’ve connected, he expects Pope Leo XIV to carry forward the same qualities he displayed during seminary school.
“He respects people. So, that’s going to be a mark of it. He’ll respect you,” Lego said. “That doesn’t mean he’s always going to agree with you, as we all know, but he’ll respect you and listen.”
Father Lego also said Pope Leo is very personable and that he’s never met anyone who didn’t like him.
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