Do you ever wonder how IMPORTANT PEOPLE handle unavoidable annoyances, like dealing with the DMV, or getting a bank to change their address? Well, sometimes, JUST LIKE US.
Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of when Pope Leo the Fourteenth (a.k.a. Robert Prevost) was elected pope at the conclave. And soon afterward, he had to change his address on everything to “Vatican City.” Even at his bank.
Father Tom McCarthy was close with Pope Leo before he ascended to, uh, “popedom.” And last week, he shared an amusing anecdote about his friend’s experience with a bank in Chicago.
He said that two months into being the pope, Leo personally called a bank to change his phone number and address to his new digs at The Vatican.
He went through all the security questions and stuff, but the lady on the customer service line said unfortunately, he’d need to come down to the bank, in person, to make those changes.
Leo said he couldn’t, but she said that’s their policy. He then said, “Would it matter to you if I told you I’m Pope Leo?” Yes, he pulled rank by name-dropping himself, although HE would argue that it was necessary context.
The woman didn’t buy it, and SHE HUNG UP ON HIM.
Father McCarthy said, “Could you imagine being known as the woman who hung up on the pope?”
The bank wouldn’t budge, until Pope Leo said he’d be forced to move his account if they couldn’t help him. And THEN they figured they could verify his identity and make the change for him remotely.
(Here’s the video of Father McCarthy telling the story. McCarthy didn’t say if Leo has any tricks for canceling his cable package.)
@cocodee0719 Fr Tom McCarthy, Augustinian and friend of Pope Leo, Fishers of Men Conference, Naperville, IL | 29 April 2026 #popeleo #popeleoxiv #robertprevost #catholic
