Brother reveals Pope Leo pretended to be a priest as a child using an ironing board as an altar and cookies as communion wafers

POPE LEO XIV played at being a priest as a child and used the family’s ironing board as an altar, his brother has revealed.

Robert Prevost — as he was known before he became the first American-born pontiff this week — also handed out biscuits as communion wafers.

John, aged 71 and currently residing in their hometown of Chicago, shared a childhood memory of his brother. He mentioned how Robert would mimic the role of a priest by draping a tablecloth over their mother’s ironing board for Mass attendance.

John recalled how his younger brother, Robert, used Necco Wafers, an American biscuit, as communion wafers during these makeshift ceremonies. He emphasized that these rituals were performed with a genuine sense of seriousness and devotion, rather than being done in jest.

Pope Leo, 69, the 267th pontiff, was one of three sons born to librarian Mildred and school principal Louis.

Although Robert went on to study mathematics at Villanova University in Philadelphia and eventually pursued training to become a priest back in Chicago, John highlighted that his brother’s vocation had its roots in his early years.

He told US TV show Good Morning America: “From the time he was five or six years old he knew this was his fate — not that he would be Pope, but that he would be a priest.

“He had that from a very young age, and he never faltered.”

His eldest brother Louis, who now lives in Florida, added: “We used to tease him all the time, ‘You’re going to be the Pope one day’.

“We knew something was special about him.”

Very emotional

While maintaining his American roots — he supports the Chicago White Sox baseball team and is said to love deep-dish pizza — the then Robert made a life in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.

He also became a Peruvian citizen, and Catholic writer Austen Ivereigh said of his elevation to the papacy: “That is the genius of this election — both the US and South America can claim him.”

And the new Pope’s goddaughter, Peruvian influencer Mildred Camacho Dioses — who was named after his mother — said her family “jumped for joy” when this week’s news broke.

She said: “He’s an excellent person and I still can’t believe he’s now the Pope. It’s made me very emotional to know that he’s the representative of God on Earth.”

Speaking from her family home in Chulucanas, near Peru’s border with Ecuador, Mildred added: “When I heard the name Robert Prevost I rang my parents and my aunts and uncles.

“It’s something we’re still processing, because we can’t believe it. He has always been present in my life, writing to me and sending me greetings on my birthday and other important dates.

“I last saw him last August, when he came to Chulucanas and he met my daughters.

“He gave them his blessing, and blessed my home and sent greetings to my grandparents who he also has a close relationship with.”

Asked if she had a message for the new Pope, Mildred said: “Godfather, we’re all so happy and so proud.”

The previous pope to take the name Leo, Pope Leo XIII, was an Italian whose baptismal name was Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci.

He was elected in 1878 and led the Catholic Church until he died in 1903.

He is remembered for his dedication to social justice.

The first Pope Leo — known as St Leo the Great — led the church between 440 and 461AD, and was known for his commitment to peace.

While the new Pope Leo has yet to say why he chose the name, it has been suggested that the deep commitment to social issues that the name represents is in line with his beliefs.

Notably, his first words as pope were: “Peace be with you.”

These (biscuits) were the communion wafers. It was all taken very seriously. It was not a joke

John Prevost

And Edinson Edgardo Farfan Cordova, the current bishop of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo used to live and work, called him a “shepherd among people”.

He said: “I am convinced Pope Leo XIV will continue the line of communion and closeness to the poor that marked the pontificate of Francis.”

It has also been revealed that the new Pope watched the film Conclave before taking part in the real thing so he “knew how to behave”.

The award-winning Ralph Fiennes movie follows a cardinal organising the conclave who investigates secrets and scandals about the candidates.

John said he asked his brother if he had watched the film to “laugh about something because this is now an awesome responsibility”.

Of his sibling’s new role leading the 1.4billion-strong Catholic Church, he added: “We are so proud.”