Pope's Brother Says Siblings Remain Close Despite Political Differences

The older brother of Pope Leo XIV has described how the three siblings remain close despite differing political views and recent public criticism from President Donald Trump directed at the pontiff. The middle brother, John, told CNN that he speaks with the pope daily and that all three brothers talk at least once a week.

The family has kept its bond since the Chicago native became pope nearly a year ago.

John said the siblings largely avoid politics in their conversations. “We keep politics to a limit,” he told CNN host Erin Burnett on her show OutFront on Wednesday night. “At certain times the topic may come up, but nothing he may say is going to change my opinion and nothing I say is going to change his opinion.

” John added. The eldest of the brothers gained national attention when the president referred to him last month in a social media post. ” He added that the family continues its routine despite the attention.

The pontiff spoke after the president threatened early last month that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz. The pope described the threat as “truly unacceptable” and urged people to consider the impact on innocent civilians, including children and the elderly.

” In a subsequent appearance on the conservative Salem News Channel this week, the president accused the pontiff of “endangering a lot of Catholics” and wrongly claimed the pontiff believes it is acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon.