Pope Francis on then-Cardinal Prevost: ‘He’s a saint,’ journalist recalls in memoir book on the late pope Pope Francis once described then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost as “a saint,” a personal remark recalled by Vatican News correspondent Salvatore Cernuzio in his memoir detailing his close relationship with the late pontiff. The comment came during a private meeting at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in February 2025, just days before Pope Francis died at age 88 on April 21, 2025. Cernuzio, who had been monitoring the pope’s health both professionally and personally, received an unexpected visit request from the pope’s nurse on February 17, 2025. Arriving at the hospital, he found Pope Francis weakened but lucid, engaged in function, and reading. It was during this encounter that the pope made the personal observation about Cardinal Prevost, whom he had known for years prior to his papacy. Cardinal Prevost, a Chicago-born member of the Order of Saint Augustine, had served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis. He was elected pope on May 8, 2025, taking the name Leo XIV, becoming the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. His election followed the death of Pope Francis, marking a historic transition in papal leadership. Before his election, Cardinal Prevost had shared insights into his relationship with Pope Francis during a 2024 visit to St. Jude Parish in Modern Lenox, Illinois. He recalled first meeting the future pope when he was prior general of the Augustinians and Jorge Bergoglio was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Prevost noted that during their interactions in Argentina, he had once reassigned an Augustinian friar at the archbishop’s request, a decision the friar reportedly disliked. Reflecting on that moment years later, Prevost said he had thought, “He probably won’t remember me,” and assumed he would never be appointed bishop—only to later serve in high ecclesiastical roles under the same man who became pope. The personal bond between the two men was further highlighted by Pope Francis’s rare public praise. Describing a fellow cleric as “a saint” is uncommon in papal discourse, underscoring the deep respect Francis held for Prevost’s character and service. This sentiment was echoed in Cernuzio’s memoir, which frames the hospital visit as a moment of spiritual closure and personal farewell. Pope Leo XIV’s papacy began amid global attention, not only for his historic identity as the first U.S.-born pontiff but also for the continuity he represented with Pope Francis’s emphasis on humility, synodality, and pastoral closeness. His early actions as pope, including choosing to speak in Italian and Spanish rather than English on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election, were noted as intentional gestures of unity with the global Church. The legacy of Pope Francis’s final days, including his private words to trusted confidants like Cernuzio, continues to shape reflections on his pontificate. His affirmation of Cardinal Prevost’s sanctity stands as a testament to the personal relationships that influenced his leadership and the quiet moments that defined his later years.
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