The New Pope Leo XIV Is a Gamer Who Watched a Papal Thriller Before the Real Conclave

 

While most of us probably imagine cardinals spending their pre-conclave days in deep prayer or solemn reflection, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV had a refreshingly relatable way to pass the time: gaming and movie nights.

Before stepping into one of the most sacred roles in the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, known to family as Robert Francis Prevost, was playing Wordle and Words with Friends on the regular. His older brother, John Prevost, shared in an interview with NBC that the two had a daily tradition of facing off in word games. Yes, the Pope plays mobile games, and he’s surprisingly good at them.

@nbcnews John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV’s older brother, talks to @NBC Chicago about his conversations with his brother before the #conclave ♬ original sound - nbcnews

But gaming wasn’t the only thing on his mind. Ahead of the conclave, he also sat down to watch Conclave, a film that dives into the behind-the-scenes drama of electing a new pope. Directed by Edward Berger, the thriller stars Ralph Fiennes and imagines a world of hidden secrets, power plays, and ancient traditions. The film struck a chord not only with audiences, but apparently with real-life cardinals as well, including the future Pope Leo XIV himself.

According to his brother, Pope Leo XIV had just finished the movie right before the big event. It became a light topic of conversation between the siblings, helping him relax and take his mind off the pressure. “He knew how to behave,” his brother joked, hinting that the film might’ve even served as an unofficial crash course for the real thing.

So yes, the next spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics is also a word game enthusiast and movie buff. It’s a fun and humanizing detail about someone who now holds one of the world’s most revered titles, and for those of us in the gaming world, it’s just plain cool to know we’ve got a gamer Pope at the helm.

(via NBC)