19th-Century Records Reveal Historic Ancestry
Pope Leo XIV has captured global attention for more than just his leadership. New findings suggest he may be the first Black pope in the Catholic Church’s long history.
A report by the National Catholic Reporter revealed that Pope Leo XIV’s maternal grandparents were identified as “mulatto” in the 1870 U.S. Census. This term, used at the time, referred to people of mixed African and European heritage.
The Daily Beast reviewed these records and confirmed their accuracy. The discovery sheds light on a rarely discussed part of the new pope’s family tree.
The Story Behind Pope Leo XIV’s Family History
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, came from a family with deep American and Creole roots. He was raised on the south side of Chicago and is also the first pope from the United States.
Records show his maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, lived in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward. The neighborhood was home to African, Caribbean, and European communities. Martinez was born in Haiti, while Baquié, a Creole, was a native of New Orleans.
Genealogist Jari C. Honora, who works at the Historic New Orleans Collection, first uncovered these details. Honora confirmed that census records listed Martinez as “Black” in 1900 and working as a cigar maker.
Church and Family Quiet About Ancestry
Although these records are now public, the Vatican’s official biography of Pope Leo XIV leaves out details of his extended family tree. It names his parents as Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent.
Pope Leo XIV himself has not addressed his racial identity publicly. His brother John told The New York Times that the family never discussed their Creole roots. Older census records from 1920 listed their parents as white, adding to the complexity.
Scholars note that racial identity involves more than ancestry alone. It also includes personal experience, culture, and community ties.
America’s Long Overlooked Black Catholic History
Historians say this discovery highlights the often-forgotten history of Black Catholics in America. Both free and enslaved people of African descent have long been part of the Church’s story.
Honora hopes the pope’s family history will help shine a light on this legacy. “This is just a reminder of how interwoven we are as Americans,” he said.
On social media, Honora warmly imagined the pope’s Creole ancestors looking down in pride. “Mais, cher, dat boy done good, yeah!” he wrote in a joyful message.
A Historic First for the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV was elected as the 267th pontiff on May 8, 2025. A moderate voice, he spent years working as a missionary in Peru before his rise to Vatican leadership.
His election marked another milestone as he became the first American to hold the papacy. Now, with these new findings, he may also be the first pope of Black heritage since the early days of the Church.
Though some scholars speculate about ancient North African popes, no historical records confirm their race. This makes Pope Leo XIV’s family history all the more significant.
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