Brother of Pope Leo XIV Verifies Documents Indicating Family's Creole and Black Ancestry
Get ready to dig into the fascinating story of Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born Pope, and his Creole ancestry.
Let's Break it Down!
John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV's brother, confirmed with the New York Times that family records, uncovered by genealogist Jari C. Honora, linking the Prevost family back to the free people of color in New Orleans in the 1840s, are indeed accurate.
Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., who represents New Orleans, is proud of the Pope's ancestral ties to their city's vibrant Creole and Haitian families.According to Honora, Pope Leo XIV's maternal grandparents were, without a doubt, people of color. However, he noted that the family doesn't identify as Black.
The family's roots can be traced to New Orleans' Seventh Ward, an historically African American neighborhood, before they moved to Chicago, where Pope Leo XIV's mother Mildred Martinez, a librarian, was born in 1912.
Pope Leo XIV, born on Sept 14, 1955 in Chicago, to Mildred Martinez and Louis Prevost, a World War II veteran of French and Italian descent, had a mixed heritage. Martinez's ancestry has been reported as Spanish, but the Pope himself hasn't made significant public statements regarding his Creole heritage.
The Records Speak!
In a Facebook post, Honora shared that Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots from New Orleans on his mother's side. The marriage license of Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquie (Pope Leo XIV's grandparents) was unearthed at Our Lady of Sacred Heart church in New Orleans in 1887. The records show Joseph Martinez was from Haiti, and the family lived at 1933 North Prieur St. in the Seventh Ward, before it was demolished during the construction of the Claiborne Avenue overpass. Critics argue that this disrupted several Black neighborhoods in the city.
A Brief Look into Pope Leo XIV's Background
Born to Mildred Martinez and Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV grew up in a devout Catholic family, attending St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Chicago. He pursued a career in mathematics at Villanova University and divinity at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, before being ordained in 1982. His religious career took him to Rome and Peru, where he was naturalized as a citizen in 2014. When he was appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later Bishop, he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen. Pope Leo XIV was elevated to oversee the appointment of new bishops in the Vatican in 2023 and was named a cardinal the same year. He was elected as Pope following four ballots on the second day of the papal conclave. Although considered more of a centrist than his predecessor, Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV has been an advocate for migrants and the poor and appears to be critical of certain actions taken by President Trump regarding migrants.
Enrich Your Knowledge:
The 7th Ward, where Pope Leo XIV's grandparents lived, is a historically significant area in New Orleans, renowned for its African, Caribbean, and European influences[1][5]. His maternal grandparents, both identified as Black or mulatto in historical records, were part of the Great Migration that saw millions of African Americans move from Southern states to Northern and Western cities during the early 20th century[3]. Joseph Martinez, Pope Leo XIV's grandfather, was a cigar maker by trade, and his wife Louise Baquié was a native New Orleanian[4]. The family migrated to Chicago, contributing to the city's African American population in a period marked by economic opportunities and a departure from racially charged environments in the South[3].
[1] Ancestry – New Orleans' historic neighborhoods (culturally rich area known for its African, Caribbean, and European influences)[2] Forbes – Who is Robert Francis Prevost? What we know about Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.[3] National Museum of African American History & Culture – The Great Migration – Key Moments & Milestones[4] The Times-Picayune – Pope Leo XIV has roots in New Orleans' 7th Ward. See his family lineage and history.[5] University of Southern Mississippi – African American Life in New Orleans – 7th Ward
- The uncovered family records confirming Pope Leo XIV's Creole roots trace back to the free people of color in New Orleans in the 1840s, as shared by John Prevost with the New York Times.
- Honora, the genealogist, highlighted that Pope Leo XIV's maternal grandparents were people of color, living in New Orleans' Seventh Ward, an historically African American neighborhood.
- Critics argue that the construction of the Claiborne Avenue overpass in New Orleans disrupted several Black neighborhoods, including Pope Leo XIV's grandparents' home at 1933 North Prieur St. in the Seventh Ward.
- Pope Leo XIV, born to Mildred Martinez and Louis Prevost, has been advocating for migrants and the poor, seemingly critical of certain actions taken by President Trump regarding migrants, as reported in general news.
- With roots in New Orleans, Chicago, and Peru, Pope Leo XIV's life and career in mathematics, divinity, and the Vatican have been covered by prominent publications such as Forbes and The Times-Picayune.
