Pope Leo XIV's Creole Roots Traced to New Orleans

Robert Francis Prevost, known as Pope Leo XIV and the first American pope, has ancestral ties to New Orleans’ Seventh Ward and its Creole heritage, as traced by genealogist Jari C. Honora at The Historic New Orleans Collection. His maternal lineage includes Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, Creole New Orleanians identified historically as 'free people of color.' The family lived in New Orleans before moving to Chicago in the early 20th century, where the pope’s mother, Mildred Martinez, was born. This genealogical revelation has been celebrated by local leaders and historians as a milestone for Louisiana’s Creole community and diversity in the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV has not made public statements about his Creole ancestry. Researchers are continuing to investigate his family history for further insights.