Long before he became Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost stood out in South Side Chicago for his kindness, humility, and unwavering devotion — even as a 13-year-old.
Chicago’s ‘Holy’ Boyhood Friend Becomes Pope Leo XIV, First American Head of Catholic Church
As the world welcomed Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, those who knew him long before the papal conclave are remembering Robert Prevost — the humble, kind-hearted boy from Chicago’s South Side who always seemed destined for a higher calling.
In an interview with PEOPLE, John Doughney, a retired teacher from Grapevine, Texas, recalled his grade-school days at St. Mary of the Assumption School with the future pope, whom classmates affectionately nicknamed “Holy.”
“When you think about a 13-year-old boy on the South Side of Chicago, most people wouldn’t immediately say ‘kind, compassionate, humble’ — but those are exactly the words I’d use for Robert,” Doughney, 69, said.
Prevost, elected pope on May 8, was always “the calm in the adolescent storm,” Doughney recalled. “At an age when most of us were moody or rebellious, he was steadfast, centered — just unique.”
Doughney shared that when he first saw Prevost’s name as a candidate for pope, he was filled with both surprise and pride. “Not because I didn’t think he was capable — he’s the perfect choice. But because there had never been an American pope before,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV, now the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, had shown signs of spiritual dedication from an early age. “I really believe he always knew the path he was meant for. Maybe not the papacy, but definitely the Church,” Doughney said.
While many boys behaved in church under pressure from nuns, Prevost’s reverence seemed deeply genuine. “Some of us were just compliant. Robert truly lived it. It wasn’t forced; it was part of who he was,” he added.
Though Doughney couldn’t recall any single standout incident, what stayed with him was the consistent grace with which Prevost carried himself. “He never fought, never used harsh words. That was rare where we grew up,” he said.
Even Robert’s own siblings called him “Holy,” Doughney recalled with a smile — a nickname that, decades later, feels almost prophetic.
“I think everyone at St. Mary’s would agree. He didn’t just practice faith. He was faith.”