‘Come In Person’: Pope Leo Tried Changing His Address, Bank Representative Thought It Was A Prank

Last Updated:May 07, 2026, 18:57 IST

Rev. Tom McCarthy said that the incident took place shortly after Robert Francis Prevost- born in Chicago and now known as Pope Leo XIV- assumed the papacy.

A humorous story involving Pope Leo XIV and a bank customer service representative has gone viral online after a longtime friend of the pontiff recalled how the newly elected pope was once hung up on while trying to update his banking details. The anecdote was shared by Rev. Tom McCarthy during a gathering of Catholics in Illinois.

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Rev. Tom McCarthy said that the incident took place shortly after Robert Francis Prevost- born in Chicago and now known as Pope Leo XIV- assumed the papacy last year. Rev. TomMcCarthy said the Pope had called his bank to change his phone number and address. After verifying his identity using his social security number and answering security questions, the customer service representative informed him that he would need to visit the branch in person.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sir. It says here you have to come in person," the representative reportedly told him. The Pope then tried explaining that an in-person visit would not be possible and asked whether an exception could be made.

When his requests failed, Rev. Tom McCarthy said the pontiff finally revealed his identity.

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“Would it matter to you if I told you I’m Pope Leo?" he reportedly asked. Instead of resolving the issue, the revelation appeared to backfire. The customer service representative allegedly assumed it was a prank call and hung up.

“Could you imagine being known as the woman that hung up on the Pope?" Rev. Tom McCarthy joked, drawing laughter from the audience. The issue was eventually resolved after another church official visited the bank personally.

Before becoming pope, Pope Leo XIV spent years serving as a missionary bishop in Peru and maintained close ties to his working-class Chicago roots. Rev. Tom McCarthy said the two have known each other since the 1980s.

News world ‘Come In Person’: Pope Leo Tried Changing His Address, Bank Representative Thought It Was A Prank

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