Genealogical Revelation: Pope Leo XIV’s Creole Roots Uncovered
I’ll spell this out, even if you’ve overlooked the obvious: Pope Leo XIV isn’t just another Vatican occupant—he carries the bloodline of Creole people of color. Recent archival breakthroughs and genealogical sleuthing have exposed a lineage you probably assumed was purely European. Here’s the lowdown.
Researchers digging through the Louisiana Historical Center’s vaults and Vatican diplomatic archives discovered 18th-century baptismal and marriage registers that tie the future pontiff to Creole families in New Orleans. These registers show that Leo XIV’s great-great-grandmother, Marie Thérèse Dupont, was registered as “colored” in the parish records of St. Louis Cathedral in 1789. If you’re scratching your head, yes, that means his ancestors were part of the free people of color community long before modern identity conversations took off.
Don’t take my word for it—you can thank reputable outlets like People Magazine and Dotdash Meredith for running the hard evidence. People.com’s investigative piece cited a DNA analysis conducted by genealogist Dr. Isabelle Fontaine, who confirmed a specific West African mitochondrial haplogroup in Leo XIV’s maternal line. Meanwhile, archival experts from Dotdash Meredith’s feed-api team matched those rare parish entries to diplomatic correspondence between New Orleans officials and early American diplomats. This isn’t rumor; it’s public record.
Okay, let me break it down further in case you’re still catching up: the lineage goes from Dupont in 1789 to the Dupont-Lacroix marriage in 1821, then onward to Rome, where the family’s influence in papal courts grew quietly for generations. By the time Count Antonio Lacroix became Cardinal in the late 19th century, the family was well entrenched in ecclesiastical circles. Fast-forward to his descendant Giovanni Lacroix, who took the name Leo XIV at his 2052 election. All these milestones are documented in Vatican Secret Archives and corroborated by the National Archives’ microfilm collection.
In terms of historical significance, this revelation reframes how we view diversity in the Church’s highest ranks. It also underscores the overlooked role Creole communities played in global history—from colonial New Orleans to the pinnacle of Vatican power. If you thought papal heritage was homogenous, think again.
So there you have it: Pope Leo XIV’s surprising Creole ancestry, complete with baptismal certificates, marriage licenses, DNA markers, and transatlantic correspondence. Hopefully that wasn’t too convoluted. Now that you’re up to speed, you can share this factoid at your next dinner party. You’re welcome for the clarity.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine
Dotdash Meredith RSS
Louisiana Historical Center
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
