Pope Leo XIV hugs brother after inaugural mass: Heartwarming video goes viral

What happens when your ‘baby brother’ becomes the Father of the whole Catholic community? Louis Prevost is here to prove that brotherly affection doesn’t change one bit.


Pope Leo XIV might have become the official leader of the Catholic Church , but to Louis ‘Lou’ Prevost, he’s still just his ‘baby brother’. On May 18, the two Prevost brothers hugged and had a brief chat after Leo's inaugural mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Take a look at that precious moment:

Brotherly hug after Inaugural Mass - Pope Leo XIV & his brother Louis pic.twitter.com/Z7yYUgGNcc

— Delia Gallagher (@deliavatican) May 18, 2025

Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass:

On May 18, Pope Leo XIV made his way through the tens of thousands gathered in St Peter's Square for his inaugural mass. The 267th pontiff looked relaxed as he smiled and waved at the faithful while riding in an open-top Popemobile. He would stop every now and then to bless babies in the crowd who were passed up to him by their delighted parents.

His inaugural mass, too, gave away hints through the homily of a seemingly humble man.


Pope Leo XIV said during the mass, "I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy."

Once again, Leo presented himself as a pontiff pledging to sow peace and unity, and critical of economic systems that marginalise the poor.


The brothers’ bond:

As Louis Prevost embraced the newly appointed pontiff, who in fact is his ‘baby brother’, and the video was posted online, it went viral in no time – as a testament of their brotherhood.

One internet user took to X to say, “This moment was so touching. You can see the pride and love in his older brother’s eyes,” while another netizen commented, “If Mama and Papa were alive, they would have made their favourite family dish. Congratulations to him, and God bless his family.”

This moment was so touching. You can see the pride and love in his older brother’s eyes. 🙏🏻❤️

— Teddy Reagan (@TReagan84) May 18, 2025

Another person mentioned, “There's something special about three brothers!!! Surely you know a Mother that has had three sons and they were all three different.” Someone else even requested for a lip reader so that they would be aware of the exchange that took place between the Prevost brothers.

If Mama and Papa were alive, they would have made their favourite family dish. Congratulations to him, and God bless his family 🙏🙏

— distinguished_esther💫 (@EstherIke16) May 18, 2025

Louis Prevost, the older brother of Pope Leo XIV, recently appeared on an interview with Piers Morgan, after Leo was elected as the first US-born pope , and it emerged that his sibling had shared vile content online, including one video that called former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) a “drunk c***.”

In the interview with Morgan, Louis said that he’d likely tone down the right-wing, pro-Donald Trump posts on social media now that his older sibling is the head of the Catholic Church. Prevost told Morgan he’s now gone “quiet” online and is “biting my tongue.” He explained, “I’m a MAGA type, and I have my beliefs. I don’t need to create heat for him.”


When Morgan asked if the Vatican had called requesting he “ease off the gas” and if he’d change his “social media strategy going forward,” Louis came up with, “No one has contacted me yet,” he replied. “I’m hoping that it doesn’t get that far, but you never know, as this stuff comes up.” He added, “Sometimes I like to go stir the pot. A lot like I think President Trump does. He says things just to stir the pot. Cause it’s fun to like get into some of these debates with people sometimes from the other side.”

But Prevost said he had realized “now that I see some of this coming back at me, that I should probably tone it down.” He added that he’s “backed off a lot of media, and I don’t see myself really getting too much involved” until speaking to his brother and figuring out if and how it’s affecting him.

Louis also informed Morgan that the Pope knew “I am who I am” and was “well aware of my position,” adding, “He knows, I’m probably not going to change, and I don’t think I will other than to just, like you say, tone it down.”