Overview

• Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American pope, elected on May 8, 2025, marking a milestone for the Catholic Church.
• Genealogists have traced his maternal lineage to Louisiana’s Creole communities of color, including ancestors classified as free people of color in 18th-century Opelousas.
• Historical records document shifting racial classifications for his family over time, reflecting broader patterns of racial identity in the U.S.
• The pope’s family migrated from New Orleans to Chicago during the early 20th century, part of the Great Migration, where they strategically ‘passed’ as white for safety and opportunity.
• The revelations have ignited discussions about the significance of his Creole and African American heritage, resonating with diverse Catholic and Black American communities.