Pope Leo XIV revealed more about his childhood vocation story during a 22 February visit to Rome’s Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a parish run by the Salesians.
The Chicago-born pope said that before entering the Augustinians, he considered joining Don Bosco’s congregation – and joked they “came in second place” in his discernment “As a boy, before joining the Augustinians, I also visited the Salesian community,” he said.
Born Robert Francis Prevost and raised in suburban Chicago, the future pope showed early signs of his vocation. His brother once told OSV News, “From the youngest age, he (just) knew that that’s what he was going to do.
It wasn’t that there was ever a doubt in anyone’s mind. Even going to kindergarten he knew that he was going to be a priest.”
During his Sunday visit, the pope told Salesians, “Perhaps there is something that has remained in my heart, also united with you, in the Salesian community,” and he urged them: “Live this spirit of Jesus’ love by following the example of Don Bosco.”
