What Happened When Pope Leo XIV Had to Call Customer Service
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- About two months after becoming Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, originally from Chicago, faced difficulties updating his bank information over the phone, despite correctly answering security questions.
- The bank representative insisted that he must visit the branch in person, and when the pope revealed his identity, the call was abruptly ended.
- The incident was shared by Rev. Tom McCarthy, a close friend of the pope, during a Catholic gathering in Naperville, Illinois, highlighting the pope’s encounter with everyday bureaucratic challenges.
- The situation was eventually resolved through the help of another priest connected to the bank president, underscoring that even the pope can be subject to standard procedures.
- The story emphasizes the pope’s humble background and humanizes his experience, while no comment was received from the Vatican or the bank regarding the incident.
