Social media users have been charmed by a video shared online of Pope Leo XIV from more than a decade ago of him singing songs in Peru, where he has dual nationality
A charming video has been shared of the new pope singing with friends at a Christmas party during his time as an archbishop in Peru.
The 267th pontiff to sit on the hallowed throne of St Peter, Pope Leo XIV, follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, remembered for his more tolerant, liberal approach to Catholicism. In the early days of his papacy people are still getting to know Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost. Earlier it was revealed the new pontiff is a Chicago Cubs baseball fan and a maths whizz and now a previous acquaintance has shared a sweet video of Pope Leo from a chance meeting more than a decade ago.
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Never expecting the priest they were introduced to would one day ascend to the head of the Roman Catholic church, they joined him in a singalong. The charming footage has since been shared widely across social media, as the future pontiff sang the Spanish Christmas classic Feliz Navidad with a live band.
Alongside the footage, the user wrote on X: “At our 2014 Christmas gathering, we were introduced to Monsignor Roberto. We were charmed by his simplicity.
“We never imagined we were meeting the man who would become the new Pope. The boys from Josif Chiclayo will always remember him. God bless you.”
One impressed user wrote in reply: “How beautiful, my friend! I love you love him so much, and I was so moved to see him. Congratulations, you deserve it! A Pope with Peruvian citizenship is great!”
Another added: “I hope you can soon take group trips to visit the Holy Father Leo XIV. He will be very happy to see you again.”
In an interview with CBS News Chicago, Pope Leo’s elder brother, John Prevost, reminisced about their shared childhood and how the future pontiff’s theological ambitions became apparent from a very early age. Retired Catholic school principal John recalled: “You know how some kids like to play war, and be soldiers, and some girls want to play dolls, and be housewives.
He wanted to play priest, and so he took our mom’s ironing board, and put a tablecloth over it, and we had to go to mass. “We went to mass, and he knew everything.
“He knew the prayers in Latin, he knew his prayers in English, and he did that all the time. He took it totally serious. It was not a joke, it was not a game. He was dead serious about it.”
An academic student, Leo was on the honour roll at St. Augustine Seminary High School, where he was even presented with a Letter of Commendation for his outstanding results. After completing his studies in 1973, Leo went on to attend Villanova University, a private Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was here where, in 1977, the multi-talented young pope-to-be graduated with a degree in mathematics.
He spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru, becoming a cardinal only two years ago in 2023. He was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order – founded in the 13th Century by St Augustine.
The order operates in 50 countries and focuses on a life of community and equality among its members. In 2014, Francis moved him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014, where he served as an administrator and later, archbishop of Chiclayo.