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New York Times

See Historical Records Documenting the Pope's Creole Roots in New Orleans

The Vatican conclave surprised the world this week by selecting the first American pope, a native of Chicago. Soon after, a respected genealogist surprised the world by revealing that the new pope's heritage connected him to far more strands of the American experience than previously known. Robert Francis Prevost, 69, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, descended from Creole people of color from New Orleans. The detective work of Jari Honora, the New Orleans genealogist and historian, was based on analysis of historical documents, including census records, many of which are presented here. Other documents were unearthed by the archdiocese of New Orleans or obtained independently by The New York Times. In their totality, the documents begin to trace the story of a family, on Pope Leo's mother's side, with a diverse background rooted in New Orleans's unique Afro-Caribbean culture that later moved to Chicago in the early 20th century. It is unclear why they left, but many Creole families like theirs moved north at the time in search of better-paying jobs and a less racially hostile environment — a story that finds parallels in the new pope's emphasis on tending to migrants and poor people. The couple moved to Chicago and in 1912 had a daughter who would become the pope's mother. Ill. He married in New Orleans in 1887. He and his wife would have many children. La. The pope's grandfather could have been born in Haiti, the Dominican Republic or Louisiana. Dominican Republic Haiti The couple moved to Chicago and in 1912 had a daughter who would become the pope's mother. Ill. He married in New Orleans in 1887. He and his wife would have many children. La. The pope's grandfather could have been born in Haiti, the Dominican Republic or Louisiana. Dominican Republic Haiti Elena Shao/The New York Times Want all of The Times? Subscribe.