The pope’s family history of “gens de couleur libre,” or free people of color, can be traced back to Opelousas, a ...

I’m praying for this new pope from the United States who has roots in the 7th Ward. That was a mind-blowing moment for me,’ ...

The discovery that the first U.S.-born pope has black and Creole roots is a finding that illustrates the nation’s rich, ...

I share an ancestral connection with Pope Leo XIV. What does that story say about race, religion, and ancestry in America?

Pope Leo XIV made history as the first U.S.-born pontiff. It was recently revealed that he has Louisiana Creole ancestry. Jari Honora, a family historian at The Historic New Orleans Collection, made ...

The clerk’s office discovered a Declaration of Intention form signed by Pope Leo XIV’s paternal grandfather, the first step in becoming a U.S. citizen.

Many Catholics around the world were stunned when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American, was elected pope. When his ...

Pope Leo XIV's ancestry isn't necessarily unique. It's quintessentially American, illustrated by his grandfather's illicit ...

The previous Pope Leo emphasized the Catholic Church's responsibility to care for the poor and support workers' rights.