Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, shares blood with A-list celebrities like Madonna and Justin Bieber through centuries-old Quebec ancestry, revealing how deeply interconnected global bloodlines truly are.
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV has surprising familial connections to entertainment icons Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Angelina Jolie, as well as political figures Hillary Clinton and Justin Trudeau
- The Pope’s multicultural ancestry spans multiple continents, with roots in France, Italy, Spain, Haiti, Canada, Cuba, and Guadeloupe
- His lineage includes African-American heritage through a grandfather born to African-American parents in Haiti
- The genealogical study was conducted by renowned researcher Henry Louis Gates Jr., who uncovered connections through a shared 16th-century Quebec ancestor
- Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, became the 267th pontiff on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis
A Pontiff with Star-Studded Family Connections
President Trump’s administration has gained an unexpected talking point as groundbreaking genealogical research reveals Pope Leo XIV’s surprising celebrity connections. The comprehensive study, conducted by The New York Times with acclaimed genealogist Henry Louis Gates Jr., has traced the pontiff’s lineage back to 16th-century Quebec, establishing him as a “ninth cousin, various times removed” to pop icon Madonna and Canadian singer Justin Bieber. This revelation showcases how deeply interconnected our global heritage truly is, with bloodlines crossing continents and cultures over centuries despite modern political and cultural divisions.
“The Pope’s ancestry is a rich tapestry of global migration, cultural fusion, and resilience,” said Brenton Simons, genealogical researcher.
Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) became the 267th pontiff on May 8, making history as the first North American to lead the Catholic Church. His election followed the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. What makes this American pope particularly noteworthy is not just his nationality but the extraordinary breadth of his ancestral connections that span continents and include figures from entertainment, politics, and literature, highlighting how arbitrary our modern cultural and political divisions truly are in the context of shared ancestry.
From Quebec to the Vatican: Tracing the Pope’s Lineage
The centerpiece of Pope Leo XIV’s celebrity connections is his Canadian ancestor, Louis Boucher de Grandpré from Trois-Rivières, Quebec. This shared ancestral line connects him not only to Madonna and Justin Bieber but also extends to U.S. politician Hillary Clinton, Canadian Prime Ministers Pierre and Justin Trudeau, literary icon Jack Kerouac, and actress Angelina Jolie. The research team, which included experts from the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami and American Ancestors, has meticulously documented these connections through historical records spanning centuries.
“Henry Louis Gates Jr., best known for helping people and celebrities uncover ancestral connections on his long-running PBS series ‘Finding Your Roots,’ has made headlines again with a viral family tree revelation involving the newly elected Pope Leo XIV,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., genealogist and historian.
The Pope’s multicultural heritage presents a remarkable tableau of human migration and intermingling across centuries. His ancestry spans continents with roots in France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Cuba, Canada, Haiti, and Guadeloupe. This diverse lineage reflects the complex historical movements of populations across the Atlantic world and challenges simplistic notions of national or ethnic identity that often dominate today’s political discourse. While the liberal establishment often promotes diversity as a modern value, the Pope’s lineage demonstrates that cultural intermingling has been occurring naturally for centuries.
African Heritage and Complex Historical Connections
Perhaps most notable in Pope Leo XIV’s ancestry is his African-American heritage. Researchers have documented at least 17 Black relatives in his family tree, including his grandfather who was born to African-American parents in Haiti. This aspect of his lineage presents a nuanced view of history that crosses racial lines in ways that defy simple narratives. His heritage includes enslaved people, slaveowners, freedom fighters, and noblemen – a complex tapestry that reflects the uncomfortable realities of human history rather than ideologically convenient simplifications.
“‘Like A Prayer’ hits different when you find out the Pope is related to Madonna,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., genealogist and historian.
The revelation that some of the Pope’s ancestors were slaveholders, including Black slaveholders, adds a layer of historical complexity that challenges simplistic narratives about race and oppression. This isn’t being highlighted to diminish historical injustices but rather to acknowledge the full spectrum of human history with its moral complexities. While many on the left prefer to view historical injustices through a black-and-white lens that serves current political narratives, the Pope’s ancestry reveals the genuine complexities of human history that transcend modern ideological frameworks.
The Significance of Shared Bloodlines
The discovery of Pope Leo XIV’s celebrity connections offers more than just tabloid curiosity – it provides a profound reminder of human interconnectedness. In an era of intense political polarization, where President Trump’s supporters and opponents often seem to inhabit different worlds, these genealogical findings reveal the artificial nature of many divisions. Madonna, with her provocative art that has often challenged Catholic teachings, shares bloodlines with the leader of the Catholic Church – an irony that transcends cultural and political boundaries in ways that merit reflection.
This genealogical revelation serves as a powerful reminder that beneath surface-level differences in politics, faith, and culture lies a shared human heritage. The Pope’s family tree, with its branches extending to liberal politicians like the Trudeaus and Clinton alongside entertainment figures with widely varying values and beliefs, demonstrates that blood connections transcend ideological divides. As America continues to navigate challenging cultural and political waters under President Trump’s leadership, perhaps this papal connection to figures across the spectrum offers a subtle reminder of our fundamental interconnectedness as a human family.
