NEW LENOX, Ill. — Late Friday morning, I drove to a quiet neighborhood in suburban Chicago and stopped in front of the home of the Pope’s brother, John Prevost. Journalists from CNN, Paris Match, EFE News Services, El Correo, Spectrum News and more — and even a sports reporter for People magazine — were also there, some arriving before me, others after.

I greeted the other journalists and proceeded to ring the doorbell and knock on the door. No answer — understandably, as John has been fielding reporters’ questions since the big announcement that his younger brother was elected Pope. The CNN crew told me John had spoken to them and other outlets earlier in the morning. 

While I waited with my journalism colleagues to see if John would emerge, we chatted about the momentous moment we were in — covering the first U.S. pope, Chicago-born, no less. We acknowledged that the new Pope is indeed a White Sox fan, and I sparked questions about canon law and Augustinians in the area.

I prayed as I waited, too — feeling blessed to be there, as an EWTN News journalist covering a first-of-its-kind papacy. I thought of the Pope’s first Marian comments and prayers and asked in the quiet of my heart that Mother Mary bless the Pope and his family.

I headed next door to see if the neighbors would care to comment in this moment.

“They’re really good people,” said next-door neighbor Sandra Jankowski of the Prevost family, adding of Leo XIV, “I’m excited to see what he is going to do, I really am.”

The Jankowskis have lived next door about 14 years.

Added her husband, Kenneth: “Great neighbors. I mean, we help each other. Watch each other’s homes. You know, if we’re out of town, he waters our plants and takes in our mail. And we do the same for him.”

“He’s awesome. We couldn’t ask for a better neighbor,” Sandra said, explaining that they share holiday meals with John.

They’ve seen the now-Pope visiting next door during his summer visits. “We’ve seen him there for a week or two,” Kenneth said.

Of the mission of the Pope in a wounded world, Kenneth said, “There’s more hate in the world right now, and we’d like to see more peace and togetherness instead of divisiveness” — “more love,” his wife added.

They missed hearing then-Cardinal Robert Prevost speak at St. Jude Catholic Church, the local parish administered by the Augustinian order of which the Pope belongs and previously had leadership over, last year.

Regardless, they are happy for their neighbor and the new Pope.

“We did go over there and congratulate him and his family,” said Sandra of John, “and we sat and talked at least half an hour, 45 minutes. It’s amazing. We’re happy for him.”

“We were shopping when we found out,” Kenneth also recounted. “My wife came running out of the store: ‘We have a new pope! We have a new pope!’” 

John Prevost was seen leaving his home, about 1 p.m. CT, reportedly to head to see his brother in the Eternal City.

As I filmed his departure, I told him we were praying for the Pope and wished him safe travels.

Though the Jankowskis didn’t know the length of John’s Rome visit, it’s not the first time he has seen his brother at the Vatican. Last time John was in Rome, when his brother was created a cardinal, he brought the Jankowskis some Italian olive oil.

Of an American pope, a Chicago pope, Kenneth said, “It definitely gives us hope for the future.”