Turns Out New Pope Leo XIV has Deep Creole and Black Roots From New Orleans

Across Black America and particularly in the heart of New Orleans, a wave of pride is building as the Catholic Church welcomes its new leader: Pope Leo XIV. Born Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, the new pontiff brings a personal heritage that is resonating far beyond the walls of the Vatican. According to genealogist Jari Honora, Pope Leo’s maternal line can be traced directly to the historic 7th Ward of New Orleans—an area rich with Creole and Black cultural roots—and even further back to Haiti. Census documents from earlier generations list his ancestors as “Black” or “Mulatto,” underscoring the authenticity of this lineage.

“We’ve got a Black Pope—by their own standards,” quipped author and legal analyst Elie Mystal, referencing outdated racial classification laws. “His grandfather is Haitian. This is real. This is history. And the anti-woke crowd is probably already losing it.”