From Holy See to Hollywood: Ancestry of Pope Leo XIV Unveiled

Expert genealogists have traced the family history of Pope Leo XIV, revealing a diverse lineage that spans the globe and includes notable figures from history and pop culture. Using records dating back to the 1500s, a collaborative effort by genealogists from Miami’s Cuban Genealogy Club and American Ancestors uncovered surprising connections.

Leo XIV’s ancestry features ancestors from France, Italy, Spain, the US, Cuba, Canada, Haiti, and Guadeloupe. Notably, he has at least 17 relatives of African descent, including his Haitian grandfather, Joseph Nerval Martínez. Interestingly, several ancestors were enslavers, with eight having been black.

His historic rise to the papacy is significant, as he is the first North American-born pope. His distant relatives include international icons such as Madonna, Justin Bieber, Angelina Jolie, and political leaders like Hillary Clinton and Justin Trudeau. For instance, Madonna is one of his ninth cousins, many generations removed.

Further extending his familial ties to fame, he counts literary figure Jack Kerouac among his relatives. At age 70, Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 9 after a swift conclave, becoming the 267th pope in the church’s long history following the death of Pope Francis, aged 88, earlier in April.