In an interview with NBC Chicago on April 23, Leo’s brother John debunked media stories according to which the Pope has cancelled a planned trip to the US. John, who speaks to his brother every day, said: “I think one thing that has to be made clear is when some newscaster announced that the Pope canceled a trip to the United States, that’s not true. At no time was the Pope planning a trip to the United States this year. So that may have been what started some kind of a problem, but it’s just a difference of opinion or a different stance on the way they [the Pope and the President) look at things. My brother is speaking for peace and peace and equality for all people.”