(ZENIT News / Rome, 20.05.2025).- Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV’s elder brother, has given interviews on his brother’s vision as Pope, highlighting his human, intellectual, and ecclesial profile in the face of journalistic opinions that place him as woke or inclined to fashionable preferences. In an interview with EFE News Agency on May 5, Louis Prevost, a Donald Trump supporter, stated that the new papacy will not be influenced by the political climate, but rather will bring liberals and conservatives within the Catholic Church closer together.
To the Spanish News Agency, Louis emphasized that he sees his brother in a position of political neutrality, as he tends to seek the unity of the faithful to follow existing rules and increase Catholic communion.
In another interview on May 12 with the British program Piers Morgan Uncensored, he offered a portrait of his brother as a moderate man, firm in the truths of the faith and attentive to the vicissitudes of the world, although far from ideological activism.
The Pope’s brother thinks he will continue some points initiated by Pope Francis, but will emphasize doctrinal clarity and obedience to canonical norms, typical of someone with a doctorate in Canon Law.
Louis Martin Prevost served in the United States Navy and resides in Port Charlotte, Florida. He is married to Deborah Prevost. He holds conservative political views and, despite ideological differences with his brother, spoke with him on the phone several times a week. He admits that his brother’s new position will make frequent communication difficult.
Louis does not believe his brother will be a liberal Pope: «I don’t think he will reverse the changes Francis made. I think he will continue on that path.» And he emphasized the new Pope’s non-ideological personality, but rather one of reflection, prudence, and profound knowledge of Catholic law and doctrine.
He pointed out a fact that reveals his line of action: «Pope Leo XIV is a middle-ground man, who does not seek to provoke scandals or ruptures. He believes that Canon Law is the basis of behaviour in the Church.»
Louis referred to the Gospel saying, «Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,» to show that his brother distinguishes between civil and religious matters, which should be respected in their own right. For example, regarding the issue of immigration, Louis recalled a comment from when his brother was a Cardinal, which expressed distance from Donald Trump’s immigration policy, expressing respect for the law: «He understands that every country has laws and that they must be followed.»
Incited by Morgan about the possibility that Leo XIV might lean toward progressive decisions, his brother responded: «I wouldn’t go that far. He’s probably more liberal than I am, but that’s because we’re different people. He spent a lot of time in Peru with very poor people. That shapes his views, but it doesn’t make him an ideologue.»
The extreme progressive stance, disconnected from tradition, expressed by the term «woke,» doesn’t seem to Louis to apply to Pope Leo XIV, as he is very sensitive to human needs, while remaining faithful to the norms and perennial doctrine of the Church.
Louis attributes this to controversial issues such as the Ordination of women: «I don’t think we’ll see that happen,» pointed out by his brother. He gave women unprecedented space in the consultation process for episcopal appointments when he worked at the Dicastery for Bishops. «He believes they should be heard because they live in the communities and know the problems,» he added.
The Pope’s brother describes the new Pontiff as a man of continuity, neither reactionary nor revolutionary, close to the people without being held hostage to worldly agendas. Why? Because of his pastoral experience in Peru, his solid theological training, and his institutional prudence that judges, dialogues without confusion, and governs with firmness and charity: «He will not change the rules to satisfy all requests. But neither will he close the door to anyone.»
Along the same lines, he expressed himself during the interview with EFE Agency, indicating that the Pope will seek to erase the current divisions to attract more people to the Church, without making drastic changes to established norms.
