Pope Leo XIV’s family tree reveals shocking connections to Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Hillary Clinton, highlighting how the first American pontiff’s multicultural ancestry spans continents and crosses paths with some of the most influential figures in entertainment and politics.
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV, the first American and 267th pontiff, has distant family connections to celebrities Madonna, Justin Bieber, and Angelina Jolie through shared Canadian ancestors
- The Pope’s extensive multicultural heritage includes ancestors from France, Italy, Spain, Haiti, Cuba, Canada, and the United States
- His lineage contains surprising elements, including both enslaved people and slaveholders, as well as connections to political figures Hillary Clinton and Justin Trudeau
- Henry Louis Gates Jr. led the genealogical research that uncovered these unexpected connections, highlighting the interconnectedness of global human history
America’s First Pope Has Star-Studded Family Connections
In a revelation that bridges the sacred and secular worlds, Pope Leo XIV, who became the 267th pontiff on May 9, 2025, has been discovered to share family ties with an astonishing array of celebrities and political figures. The genealogical study, spearheaded by renowned scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. in collaboration with the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami and American Ancestors, traced the Pope’s lineage back to 16th-century Quebec, establishing connections that few could have anticipated. These findings have caused a stir among both religious followers and pop culture enthusiasts, as they demonstrate how interconnected human history truly is.
Born in Chicago as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV succeeded Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. His election marked a historic milestone as the first North American to ascend to the papacy. The extensive genealogical research reveals that through a Canadian ancestor, Louis Boucher de Grandpré from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, the Pope can claim familial connections to pop icon Madonna and Canadian singer Justin Bieber as a “ninth cousin, various times removed,” according to The New York Times.
A Truly Global Heritage
Pope Leo XIV’s ancestry presents a remarkable mosaic of global influences, spanning multiple continents and cultures. His family tree includes ancestors from France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Cuba, Canada, Haiti, and Guadeloupe, making him perhaps one of the most multicultural pontiffs in the Church’s long history. Particularly notable is his African-American heritage, with a grandfather born to African-American parents in Haiti. This diverse lineage includes enslaved people, slaveowners, freedom fighters, and noblemen, reflecting the complex tapestry of American and global history.
“The Pope’s ancestry is a rich tapestry of global migration, cultural fusion, and resilience,” said Brenton Simons, president of American Ancestors.
Among the most surprising discoveries is the Pope’s connection to political figures, including Hillary Clinton and both Pierre and Justin Trudeau of Canada. He also shares distant relations with literary icon Jack Kerouac and Hollywood star Angelina Jolie. These connections highlight how bloodlines cross geographical, cultural, and professional boundaries, creating unexpected links between figures who operate in vastly different spheres of influence. The Pope has at least 17 Black relatives, including his grandfather from Haiti, adding further depth to his multicultural background.
The Scholar Behind the Discovery
Henry Louis Gates Jr., the distinguished Harvard professor and host of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” led this groundbreaking genealogical investigation. Gates has made a career of helping people, including many celebrities, uncover their ancestral connections, but the papal family tree may be his most headline-generating work yet. His meticulous research methodologies have unveiled connections that span centuries and continents, drawing attention to the often surprising ways in which human history intertwines across generations.
“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,” noted Henry Louis Gates Jr., the distinguished Harvard professor and genealogist.
Gates brought his trademark insight and humor to the discoveries, remarking that “‘Like A Prayer’ hits different when you find out the Pope is related to Madonna.” This quip highlights the cultural significance of finding connections between figures as disparate as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and one of pop music’s most controversial figures. The research team’s findings serve as a powerful reminder that despite our apparent differences, humanity shares more connections than we might initially recognize.
