Context:

Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time a U.S.-born individual has become pope. His ancestry, traced through his maternal grandparents Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, connects him to the Afro-Creole community of New Orleans, a historically significant group of mixed-race Catholics. This revelation highlights the intricate and often overlooked history of Black Catholics in America, particularly those who were free people of color or 'gens de couleur libres' in Louisiana. The genealogical research was conducted by Jari C. Honora, who uncovered the pope's Creole roots, underscoring the interconnectedness of American identities. Despite the new pope's Creole background being largely unrecognized publicly, his heritage is seen as a significant moment for the Louisiana Creole community, many of whom have historically been able to pass as white, obscuring their rich cultural contributions and history.

Dive Deeper:

• Robert Francis Prevost, chosen as Pope Leo XIV, is the first pontiff from the United States, with roots in Chicago and a family history deeply tied to Creole culture in New Orleans.

• The pope's maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, were Afro-Creole individuals from New Orleans' Seventh Ward, a melting pot of African, Caribbean, and European influences, and later moved to Chicago.

• Research by genealogist Jari C. Honora unearthed the pope's Creole background, revealing a connection to the historically significant and often overlooked Black Catholic experience in America.

• The Creole community, known in Louisiana as 'gens de couleur libres,' or free people of color, were influential in business, arts, and music, contributing notably to the development of jazz.

• The new pope's heritage is seen as a significant acknowledgment of the rich diversity within the Catholic Church and the broader American experience, challenging perceptions of racial identity.

• Lolita Villavasso Cherrie, co-founder of The Creole Genealogical and Historical Association, notes that many Creoles have historically 'passed' as white, but the internet has enabled a rediscovery of Creole roots.

• John Prevost, the pope's brother, mentions their paternal grandparents' French roots and states that the family never emphasized their Creole heritage, highlighting complex identity dynamics.