Yes, Robert Francis Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV, has African American roots in New Orleans. His maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, were described as Black or mixed race in historical records, with Joseph being a Haitian immigrant and Louise being of New Orleans Creole descent, according to The New York Times and ABC News.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
New Orleans Creole Roots:
Pope Leo XIV's maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, were Creole people of color from New Orleans.
Black Catholic Heritage:
This discovery highlights the rich, sometimes overlooked, Black Catholic heritage in America, according to The New York Times.
Family History:
Joseph Martinez, the Pope's maternal grandfather, was identified as Haitian in some records and later as from the Dominican Republic. Louise Baquié was described as being from New Orleans.
Racial Identity and Migration:
While records described the grandparents as Black or mixed race, the family later identified as white when they moved to Chicago, a common practice among Black families seeking to escape racial segregation, according to the BBC.
Celebration:
The discovery has been celebrated by Black Catholics and others who recognize the historical significance of this new Pope's ancestry, according to The Washington Post.
Leo XIV is not known to have publicly commented having African ancestry, which is part of a mixed heritage that also includes French, Italian and Spanish roots. According to the U.S. Census, Prevost's mother, the late Mildred Martinez, was the mixed-race daughter of Black property owners, the Haitian-born Joseph Martinez and New Orleans native Louise Baquié, a Creole.
As such, Leo XIV could be considered the first Black pope in the history of the Catholic Church, though it is unclear how he identifies racially.
"It's more complicated than that," Honora told Black Catholic Messenger. "I think that a person can be of Black ancestry or have Black roots, but to identify as Black, I think, is all about the lived experience."
“There is Cuban ancestry on his maternal side. So, there are a number of firsts here and it’s a matter of pride for Creoles," said Jolivette, whose family is Creole from Louisiana. “So, I also view him as a Latino pope because the influence of Latino heritage cannot be ignored in the conversation about Creoles.”
"The Americans will have to decide whether they want a white America or whether they want to make the choice of their President ever more a question of additional concessions toward mulattoisation. In the latter case, the United States of America, in a few centuries, will go the way of Greece and Rome; and the Catholic Church, which even today has black bishops, will be the pacemaker." - Rosenberg from his memoirs in 1946
No, while Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost) has diverse ancestry, including French, Italian, and Spanish, he is not part Indian in the sense of being of Native American descent. His lineage traces back to immigrant families from France and Spain, and he was born in the United States. However, his maternal great-grandparents were considered "free people of color" in Louisiana, meaning they were a part of the Creole community there. This complex heritage reflects the historical melting pot of French, Spanish, African, and Native American cultures in the region.
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I'm still not convinced. Jury's still out in my book.
[ + ] Joe_McCarthy
[ - ] Joe_McCarthy [op] 0 points 4 hoursMay 10, 2025 16:36:57 ago (+0/-0)
Leo XIV is not known to have publicly commented having African ancestry, which is part of a mixed heritage that also includes French, Italian and Spanish roots. According to the U.S. Census, Prevost's mother, the late Mildred Martinez, was the mixed-race daughter of Black property owners, the Haitian-born Joseph Martinez and New Orleans native Louise Baquié, a Creole.
As such, Leo XIV could be considered the first Black pope in the history of the Catholic Church, though it is unclear how he identifies racially.
"It's more complicated than that," Honora told Black Catholic Messenger. "I think that a person can be of Black ancestry or have Black roots, but to identify as Black, I think, is all about the lived experience."
[ + ] Joe_McCarthy
[ - ] Joe_McCarthy [op] 0 points 4 hoursMay 10, 2025 16:17:04 ago (+0/-0)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2025/05/08/pope-leo-xivs-ancestry-celebrated-congressman-genealogist-tout-possible-creole-black-roots/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/pope-leo-creole-new-orleans.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/05/09/pope-leo-creole-ancestors-prevost/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/pope-leo-xivs-family-tree-shows-black-roots/story?id=121644537
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pope-leo-xivs-creole-heritage-040336840.html
[ + ] Joe_McCarthy
[ - ] Joe_McCarthy [op] 0 points 4 hoursMay 10, 2025 16:42:20 ago (+0/-0)
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Aha.
[ + ] Joe_McCarthy
[ - ] Joe_McCarthy [op] 0 points 4 hoursMay 10, 2025 16:09:19 ago (+0/-0)
https://www.upgoat.net/viewpost?postid=68080b3e40703&commentid=68080bfad5cd2
[ + ] Joe_McCarthy
[ - ] Joe_McCarthy [op] 0 points 4 hoursMay 10, 2025 16:05:30 ago (+0/-0)
No, while Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost) has diverse ancestry, including French, Italian, and Spanish, he is not part Indian in the sense of being of Native American descent. His lineage traces back to immigrant families from France and Spain, and he was born in the United States. However, his maternal great-grandparents were considered "free people of color" in Louisiana, meaning they were a part of the Creole community there. This complex heritage reflects the historical melting pot of French, Spanish, African, and Native American cultures in the region.
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I'm still not convinced. Jury's still out in my book.