Pope Leo's Friend Sent a Congratulatory Email, but Says His Pal 'Bob' Hasn't Responded Yet (Exclusive)
Rev. Rob Hagan met Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — in the late '90s
Like many people around the globe, he tells PEOPLE he was completely surprised when the new pope stepped out onto St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, May 8
"It was like a family member had just emerged on the balcony," he says
For Rev. Rob Hagan, the election of Pope Leo XIV was a wonderful sight — but one he never thought he'd see.
Rev. Hagan, who shares a Villanova University connection with "Father Bob," says people on campus were completely surprised when the new pope stepped out onto St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, May 8.
'I'm usually a glass half full person, but I didn't think that it was going to happen," he tells PEOPLE.
"When he emerged from the balcony, you could have knocked us over," he continues, but adds that "when you really start to reflect, you can see why they chose him."
Personally, the reverend, who currently serves as a department chaplain and Villanova's Senior Associate Athletic Director, says he was "elated" over Pope Leo's appointment.
"It was like a family member had just emerged on the balcony, and we know him as Bob," he adds.
Rev. Hagan, 59, first met his "mentor" Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — in the late '90s while going through Augustinian formation, the process of joining the Order of St. Augustine.
The reverend says that the new pope, 69, treated him "like a friend" when they first met, even though he was a superior in the order and had more experience.
"He welcomed me, he introduced me to other Augustinian brothers in Chicago," Rev. Hagan says. "He encouraged me in my vocation to kind of hang in there and persevere, especially when you're new and you're not really sure what you're doing. And so I found him almost as someone to look up to."
Describing Pope Leo as "incredibly bright," Rev. Hagan says he is someone who "has a real love for the poor" and "really stands on his Augustinian foundation" — plus he has "a good sense of humor" and always has a "twinkle in his eye."
Rev. Hagan predicts that the new pope's character traits will help him connect with everyone as leader of the Catholic Church.
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As someone with a long history with the pope, Rev. Hagan says he emailed him a message of congratulations after he was revealed as Pope Francis' successor.
He told Pope Leo, "Congratulations and we're praying for you" in his email — words similar to those that the pope shared with Rev. Hagan upon his election as prior provincial of the province of St. Thomas of Villanova three years ago.
"I received a very supportive email from him, and I just really appreciated it," Rev. Hagan says. "It was probably somebody who could identify with the nature of the job and the responsibilities, and he sent me a real nice note of encouragement, and I just never forgot that."
As for getting a response to that email, he's still waiting — he says it's also possible it "may have gotten lost" — but understands his friend is a little busy at the moment.
Read the original article on People
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