If you've ever been curious about how a prospective Pope spends his leisure time, the answer might surprise you. According to a close family member, the recently elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, enjoys gaming and watching movies during his downtime, much like many of us.
As we reported earlier this week, Edward Berger’s gripping papal thriller Conclave captivated audiences last year. Its "remarkably accurate" depiction of the papal election process drew the attention of real-life religious leaders, including those involved in the actual conclave to select a new Pope. This included Prevost himself, now Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV, a surprising gamer. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.
In an interview with NBC, Pope Leo XIV's older brother, John Prevost, shared insights from their last conversation before Robert's appointment. Amidst discussing their daily gaming rituals of Wordle and Words with Friends, John asked if his brother had watched Conclave for any pointers.
"He had just finished watching the movie Conclave," John revealed. "So he knew how to behave. So, it's that kind of stuff [that we talk about] — I just wanted to take his mind off of [the upcoming conclave]. Laugh about something."
Directed by Edward Berger, the BAFTA and Oscar-winning film *Conclave* delves into one of the world's most secretive and ancient events — the selection of a new Pope. The movie follows Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, who is responsible for overseeing this clandestine process following the sudden death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church's most influential leaders gather from around the globe and are secluded within the Vatican, Lawrence uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that could potentially destabilize the Church's foundations.
