Pope Leo XIV’s Complex Family Tree Revealed

Chicago, IL — On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, marking a historical moment as the first American pontiff. Following his election, genealogical intrigue unfolded, revealing the complexities of his ancestry.

Genealogist Jari C. Honora uncovered that Pope Leo has recent African American ancestors. Prevost’s maternal grandparents from New Orleans were identified as “mulatto” and “black,” a groundbreaking revelation for the new pope’s background.

With researchers from American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, more than 100 ancestors were traced through 15 generations. They discovered diverse roots, including noblemen from Spain dating back to the 1500s.

Among his ancestors are four “hidalgos” listed in a Spanish census. A notable figure is Diego de Arana Valladar, a captain in the Royal Armada who battled Dutch privateers. Additionally, the pope is related to Antonio José de Sucre, a hero in Latin America’s fight against Spanish colonialism and the first elected president of Bolivia.

Prevost’s family history also includes experiences of immigration. His paternal grandfather, Salvatore Giovanni Gaetano Riggitano Alito, emigrated from Sicily to the U.S. in 1905 and had a complicated personal life, marrying after failing to become a priest.

The pope’s family tree also includes facts about the darker sides of history. Records indicate that several of his ancestors owned slaves in the United States. This includes his fourth-great-grandfather François Lemelle, who enslaved at least twenty people.

Among the identified ancestors are both free Black individuals and enslavers, reflecting a complicated narrative of race and class within the African American community. This illustrates a historical continuum of relations between various actors in the context of slavery.

These findings highlight a broader story of America’s intertwined and diverse history, as the pope embodies elements from African, Spanish, French, and Italian lineages. The intricate tapestry of his ancestry underscores the multifaceted nature of being American.

Pope Leo XIV stands as a figure who not only holds spiritual authority but also carries the weight of a rich, diverse familial legacy that intertwines with many significant historical moments in the Americas.