If you've ever been curious about how a prospective Pope spends his leisure time, wonder no more. According to a close family member, the recently elected Pope Leo XIV enjoys activities just like many of us: playing games and watching movies during his downtime.
As we reported earlier this week, Edward Berger's thrilling film Conclave captivated audiences last year. Its depiction of the papal selection process was so compelling and accurate that it influenced some real-life religious leaders, including those involved in this week's actual conclave to elect a new Pope. Among them was Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV is an avid gamer, it turns out. 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. They discussed their daily ritual of playing word games like Wordle and Words with Friends together. John also inquired if his brother had watched the movie Conclave for any tips on the upcoming conclave.
"He had just finished watching the movie Conclave," John revealed. "So he knew how to behave. It's that kind of stuff we talk about — I just wanted to take his mind off the upcoming conclave and have a 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 story follows Cardinal Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes), who is responsible for overseeing this covert process following the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church's most influential leaders gather from around the world and are secluded in the Vatican, Cardinal Lawrence uncovers a conspiracy and a secret that threatens the very foundation of The Church.
