Pope Leo XIV has delved into his family history, revealing his ancestry included both enslaved people and slave owners. In a recent interview, the first American pontiff shared that his grandparents were immigrants, and on his mother’s side, there were people who were both slaves and slave owners.

Family Ties

The pope’s remarks on his family history come after research found he had a mix of European and African American ancestors. His maternal grandparents, residents of New Orleans, are described in census records as ‘black’ and ‘mulatto.’ The research, conducted by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., also revealed that the pope’s ancestors included both slave owners and enslaved people.

Pope Leo XIV has been vocal about his love for the United States, praising the country’s ‘sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity’ and ‘of having invited for generations people from around the world to be part of America.’ He has also criticized the ‘inhuman’ treatment of immigrants during the Trump administration’s crackdown.

The pope’s comments on his family history and his American heritage are significant, given his role as the head of the Catholic Church. As a pope who happens to be American, he has a unique perspective on the world and the Church’s place in it.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.