New Pope Has Creole Roots in New Orleans, Genealogist Says
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Introduction:
The news topic “New Pope Has Creole Roots in New Orleans, Genealogist Says” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- The pope’s maternal grandparents, both of whom are described as Black or mulatto in various historical records, lived in the city’s Seventh Ward. The grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, eventually moved to Chicago in the early 20th century and had a daughter: Mildred Martinez. The discovery means that Leo XIV, as the pope will be known, is not only breaking ground as the first U.S.-born pontiff. He also comes from a family that reflects the many threads that make up the complicated and rich fabric of the American story. “I hope that it will highlight the long history of Black Catholics, both free and enslaved, in this country, which includes the Holy Father’s family,” genealogist Jari C. Honora said in a text message late Thursday.
- WDSU’s JONAH GILMORE explains the POPE’s Black CREOLE ANCESTRY and his New Orleans roots. Pope Leo XIV’s family history shows deep ties to New Orleans. POPE LEO 14 is the new American PONTIFF now in charge of leading CATHOLICS around the world. He was born in New Orleans in 1887, but his family moved to Chicago in 1900, according to WDSU’S JONah GILmore. He is the first child of his parents not to be born in NEW ORLEANS, she says. He has deep roots in the African-American community and the Creole community, Gilmore says. The POPE is a “homeboy,” she says, and that makes him a “universal person” and a “universal” person. He’s the 14th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Genealogist Jari C. Honora says the new pope is partially descended from Creole people of color. He says the pope’s maternal grandparents were Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié. The records show that couple married at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. The church’s building was on Annette Street, a historic center of Afro-Creole culture in the city’s 7th Ward. It’s unclear whether the pope, who took the name Leo XIV, has ever addressed his ancestry in public, interviews or his writings.. Many of these Louisianans were known in the 18th and 19th centuries as “gens de couleur libres,” or free people of colour. Many were well educated, French-speaking and Roman Catholic. Over the decades, they established a foothold in business, the building trades and the arts, particularly music.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
The pope’s maternal grandparents, both of whom are described as Black or mulatto in various historical records, lived in the city’s Seventh Ward. The grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, eventually moved to Chicago in the early 20th century and had a daughter: Mildred Martinez. The discovery means that Leo XIV, as the pope will be known, is not only breaking ground as the first U.S.-born pontiff. He also comes from a family that reflects the many threads that make up the complicated and rich fabric of the American story. “I hope that it will highlight the long history of Black Catholics, both free and enslaved, in this country, which includes the Holy Father’s family,” genealogist Jari C. Honora said in a text message late Thursday. Read full article
Pope Leo XIV’s ties to New Orleans
WDSU’s JONAH GILMORE explains the POPE’s Black CREOLE ANCESTRY and his New Orleans roots. Pope Leo XIV’s family history shows deep ties to New Orleans. POPE LEO 14 is the new American PONTIFF now in charge of leading CATHOLICS around the world. He was born in New Orleans in 1887, but his family moved to Chicago in 1900, according to WDSU’S JONah GILmore. He is the first child of his parents not to be born in NEW ORLEANS, she says. He has deep roots in the African-American community and the Creole community, Gilmore says. The POPE is a “homeboy,” she says, and that makes him a “universal person” and a “universal” person. He’s the 14th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Read full article
Newly named Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots in New Orleans, genealogist says
Genealogist Jari C. Honora says the new pope is partially descended from Creole people of color. He says the pope’s maternal grandparents were Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié. The records show that couple married at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. The church’s building was on Annette Street, a historic center of Afro-Creole culture in the city’s 7th Ward. It’s unclear whether the pope, who took the name Leo XIV, has ever addressed his ancestry in public, interviews or his writings.. Many of these Louisianans were known in the 18th and 19th centuries as “gens de couleur libres,” or free people of colour. Many were well educated, French-speaking and Roman Catholic. Over the decades, they established a foothold in business, the building trades and the arts, particularly music. Read full article
Pope Leo XIV’s Ancestry Celebrated: Congressman, Genealogist Tout Possible Creole, Black Roots
The maternal side of Pope Leo XIV’s family can be traced back to at least the 1840s among “free people of color” in New Orleans, a genealogist said. Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., said he was proud “As a Black man” and “a proud son of New Orleans.” Pope Leo XIII was born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955 to Mildred Martinez and Louis Prevost, a World War II veteran of French and Italian descent. The Diocese of Chiclayo, where the pope served as bishop between 2015 and 2023, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes. The pope does not appear to have made major public statements regarding Creole heritage, and his mother’s descent has been widely reported to be Spanish. Read full article
Pope Leo XIV’s family has ties to Louisiana going back more than 100 years, historian says
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has ties to New Orleans. He was married to a woman from the city in 1887. The couple moved to the U.S. in the early 1900s. The Pope is the first American to be elected to the papal throne in more than 100 years. He replaces Pope John Paul II, who was elected last year to a second term. The new Pope is expected to be inaugurated in February. The ceremony will take place in New Orleans’ Zephyr Hill neighborhood, which is home to the French-speaking community of the same name. It is also known as the Zephyrs’ Hill. The church was built in 1803. The name of the church is now called the St. Peter’s Church in the French Quarter. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- Pope Leo XIV’s ties to New Orleans
- Newly named Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots in New Orleans, genealogist says
- Pope Leo XIV’s Ancestry Celebrated: Congressman, Genealogist Tout Possible Creole, Black Roots
- Pope Leo XIV’s family has ties to Louisiana going back more than 100 years, historian says
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/pope-leo-creole-new-orleans.html