The eldest brother of Pope Leo XIV has found himself at the center of controversy following the discovery of inflammatory social media posts that included vulgar attacks on political figures and echoed right-wing conspiracy theories.
Louis Prevost, 73, who lives in Port Charlotte, Florida, has since made his Facebook posts private and indicated he plans to moderate his online presence.
The Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV after Pope Francis’ death, bringing unexpected attention to his American family members, who lead decidedly ordinary lives. While the world adjusts to having a pontiff with relatives who engage in typical American activities, it is Louis Prevost’s provocative social media activity that has generated the most scrutiny.
Among the controversial posts that were publicly viewable until they were removed, Louis Prevost reshared an old video of Nancy Pelosi, accompanied by commentary that referred to the former House Speaker using a vulgar sexist epithet. The same post also made insinuations about Paul Pelosi’s sexual orientation, repeating misinformation that circulated among right-wing circles following the brutal attack on Pelosi’s husband at their home in October 2022.
Additional social media activity from the Pope’s brother included a declaration that supporters of Joseph R. Biden Jr. suffered from a mental affliction, according to reports.
In another post, Louis Prevost encouraged people to “Keep [their] powder dry,” because there is a “war right here at home, a war for our streets and neighborhoods.” The inflammatory rhetoric reflects common talking points and conspiracy theories prevalent among right-wing political circles.
The controversy reached mainstream media attention when Louis Prevost appeared as a guest on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” During the interview, host Piers Morgan read portions of the posts back to him, noting that the content was quite provocative for someone who is now the Pope’s older brother.
The situation presents an unprecedented challenge for the Vatican, as previous papal families never had to contend with the modern phenomenon of social media. As one report noted, the Borgias, despite their many historical transgressions, never posted crude or spicy memes to social platforms.
Louis Prevost leads a quintessentially American lifestyle in Florida. He can often be found at the Twisted Fork restaurant in Port Charlotte, where he participates in line dancing during Honky-Tonk Thursdays. His cell phone ringtone features the opening riffs of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” and he sustained $20,000 in roof damage from Hurricane Ian.
The timing of the controversy has added complexity to Pope Leo XIV’s early days in the papacy. The new pontiff now faces questions about his family’s political activities and social media presence while attempting to establish his leadership of the global Catholic Church.
Media coverage of the posts has been largely critical, with outlets describing the content as inappropriate and offensive. The controversy has also drawn attention to the broader phenomenon of misinformation and conspiracy theories that have proliferated on social media platforms in recent years.
President Donald Trump hosted Louis Prevost at the White House on May 20. Earlier that day at the Capitol, Trump had praised Prevost to reporters, describing him as a “major MAGA fan.”
The president expressed his admiration for the pope and his brothers, with a particular focus on Louis, a Navy veteran from Port Charlotte.
Later that day, Louis Prevost and his wife, Deborah, visited the White House, where they met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.
Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor, shared a photo of the gathering on X, commenting, “Great meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and @Pontifex’s brother, Louis Prevost, and his wife Deborah.”
The Prevost brothers—Louis, John, and Robert (Pope Leo XIV)—were raised in Chicago within a devout Catholic household.
Louis Prevost shared that his youngest brother, Robert, showed aspirations of becoming a priest as early as age six and committed to the idea during his freshman year of high school. According to Louis, their parents, neighbors, and even strangers would often tell Robert, “One day, you’ll be pope.”
As Pope Leo XIV begins his tenure leading the Catholic Church, the actions and statements of his family members will likely continue to attract attention. The Vatican has not issued any official statements regarding Louis Prevost’s social media activity or the controversy surrounding his posts.
The incident represents one of the first major challenges for the new Pope, who must navigate the intersection of his family’s American political engagement and his role as a global religious leader. Louis Prevost’s decision to limit public access to his social media posts suggests an awareness of the scrutiny that now accompanies his status as the pontiff’s brother.