Pope Leo XIV’s family tree shows Black roots in New Orleans

Robert Francis Prevost, recently elected as Pope Leo XIV, has Black ancestry tracing back to New Orleans, Louisiana, with evidence from early 1900s U.S. Census records indicating his maternal grandparents were classified as Black or mulatto. His family’s racial identity shifted from Black in New Orleans to white after moving to Chicago, a common survival strategy among families at the time. This ancestry highlights the diverse cultural and racial history of the U.S., with genealogists continuing to explore his lineage, emphasizing his connection to the Creole heritage of Louisiana.

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