Pope Leo received an official copy of his family tree, which includes his ties to "free people of color" in New Orleans.

When Henry Louis Gates Jr. set out to trace the family tree of America's first pope, he had no idea he was about to uncover ...

Pope Leo XIV got a special visit from Finding Your Roots writer, host and executive producer Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., to ...

Beyond the celebrity ties, Pope Leo XIV’s ancestry tells a deeper story. His roots include Creole heritage from New Orleans, with ancestors listed as “mulatto” or “free people of color ...

In a collaborative article between The New York Times, American Ancestors, and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explored Pope Leo XIV's ancestry, uncovering a link to the ...

Pope Leo XIV, who made history as the first American pope when he was elected in May 2025, ... Now, the discovery of his unique family history adds another layer to the story.