Pope Leo XIV's brother reveals change in their relationship since his historic appointment as first American pope

Nobody is more excited about the appointment of the new pope than his family.

A historic decision was made earlier this week to choose the first American-born pope, after white smoke was seen emerging from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City; marking the conclave's decision over who would take over as head of the Catholic Church following Pope Francis' death on Easter Monday.

Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, is the first American to lead the Catholic Church and his two older brothers couldn't be happier for him - but sadly, they haven't been able to get hold of him since the announcement was made on Thursday (8 May).

In a sweet show of family support, the siblings have been talking to the press about their enthusiasm for their brother's new position, and as only family can they managed to tease him too.

John and Louis have given interviews talking about their pride, and let slip that the post has been a lifelong ambition for their little brother and his new name.

Louis told ABC News: "We used to tease him all the time -- you're going to be the pope one day."

"Neighbors said the same thing. Sixty-some years later, here we are," he added.

John added that his brother often 'played priest... The ironing board was the altar'.

Louis Prevost has shared his excitement for his little brother being the new pope (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

At 69, Robert is the youngest of the three brothers and grew up on the South Side of Chicago.

Louis told the news how the brothers have been trying to get a hold of him to talk about the exciting development.

And there may well be some sibling rivalry in the works, with Louis explaining: "You saw my brother John trying to get a hold of him, and he did get through to him.

"Surprisingly, I haven't been able to, but then those two are closer together age-wise, and spent more time together than I did. I went off into the military, and they traveled the world together while they were in college."

Of course he has said he'll tease him too, when he does get hold of him, saying he'll 'give him grief a little bit, but I'll obviously wish him all the best and congratulations'.

Pope Leo XIV pictured with the late Pope Francis in 2023 (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

According to his other brother John, he only got 30 seconds to speak to his brother when the news was announced, with him saying he's not sure he'll ever get used to the fact his brother is the pope.

"I'm the Pope's brother. It sounds like my mind is still blown," he told ABC News in what might be the world's biggest understatement.

Louis added: "Yes, it's going to take a while, the shock, initial shock, hasn't worn off. I don't know that it ever will, because this is going to go on, I assume, for the rest of his life."

All jokes aside, he did share his fear that things have now changed for good for the family thanks to their brother's new role.

"We're hoping to hear something, because we're trying to figure out when we should go there," Louis said. "Yeah, we're hoping he calls and says you can come on this time, and I'll have this day available for you, but at this point, and that's really, that's one of the negative things is, will we ever see him again?

Pope Leo's brothers say he always wanted to be pope (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

"Will we be able to have that brother relationship anymore, or will you be too sharing it with the world? Now, with being Pope, you'll be sharing him with the world."

John also opened up about how he thought their late parents would have felt about the new position.

He thinks they would have felt 'extreme joy' and 'extreme pride', but would also have been concerned because 'it's a heavy weight on his shoulders'.

"I'm concerned," John said to Good Morning America on Friday (9 May). "It is quite a responsibility that he's going to face now because he's got the task of trying to bring the world's Catholics together. I think we're splitting apart quickly.

"Maybe he can do something to bring it back. People are leaving the church. There are factions in the church... I think he's got to face those things and somehow talk about it and bring people together to talk about it, to get worldwide opinion."