When white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, one man in Southwest Florida stood still, his phone already lighting up with calls.
Louis Prevost's brother had just been named Pope Leo XIV.
"Going to bed at like 2:00, 2:30, and later. Oh my God. Rob's the pope," Prevost said.
In an interview with Gulf Coast News, the newly elected pontiff’s older brother shared what the past 24 hours have been like, from the moment he saw the announcement to the emotional calls that followed from friends, family, and reporters from all over the world.
"It's been quite a ride, and it's only day two. It's like, will this ever go back to normal? I don't know, we had people come by last night, just strangers from other churches that heard the name, knew we were in the area, drove around to find us. 'I just wanted to meet the Pope's brother,'" Prevost said.
Louis Prevost, who lives in Charlotte County, said he couldn’t hold back the overwhelming pride he felt for his brother. He described his brother, the man now chosen to lead 1.3 billion Catholics, as humble, grounded, and deeply devoted.
"We kind of had an inkling there's a good potential they could elect him," he said. "I thought, who else has the background that Rob has from his previous tours of duty?
The election of Pope Leo XIV, who succeeds Pope Francis, marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church. And while global attention is focused on Rome, this papal moment carries deep meaning for Catholics across Southwest Florida.
"Excitement, the novelty or whatever you'd like to call it of my little brother being the Pope has not worn off," Prevost said.
Prevost hopes to head to the Vatican before Pope Leo XIV's inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square on May 18.