Why does Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff with Haitian and Creole roots, say he doesn’t identify as Black?
Elected on May 8, 2025, the Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost has sparked global intrigue with his complex heritage and personal stance on racial identity. Despite his maternal grandparents’ deep ties to New Orleans’ Black Creole community, the Pope’s rejection of a Black identity raises questions about family history, societal pressures, and personal choice.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV descends from Joseph Martinez, a Haitian-born cigar maker, and Louise Baquié, a Creole woman from New Orleans’ Seventh Ward, a historic hub of Black Catholic culture. Census records from 1900 list them as Black or “mulatto,” reflecting their Afro-Caribbean and European ancestry. Yet, after moving to Chicago between 1910 and 1912, the family was recorded as White in the 1910 and 1920 censuses, a shift suggesting racial passing to escape Jim Crow-era discrimination. This practice was common among Creole families navigating America’s rigid racial hierarchy.
The Pope’s mother, Mildred Martinez, was born in Chicago in 1912, while his father, Louis Prevost, was of French and Italian descent with no Creole ties. His brother, John Prevost, 71, told reporters,
“We never identified as Black growing up. Our family didn’t talk about Creole roots.”
This silence contrasts with public celebration of the Pope’s heritage, with figures like Rep. Troy Carter praising his “ancestral ties to our Creole and Haitian families” on social media. The disconnect has fueled debate about why the Pope distances himself from a Black identity.
No direct quotes from Pope Leo XIV explicitly address his racial stance, but his brother’s remarks suggest a family culture of assimilation. Historians note that racial passing often involved severing ties to African ancestry to secure social and economic opportunities. The Pope’s grandparents’ shift from Black to White in census records supports this, as does the inconsistent listing of Joseph’s birthplace—variously recorded as Haiti, “Hayti,” or “Santo Domingo.” These discrepancies may reflect efforts to obscure origins during a time of intense racial scrutiny.
The Pope’s upbringing in Chicago, far from New Orleans’ Creole community, likely reinforced this detachment. As a member of the Augustinian order and a missionary in Peru for decades, his focus has been on universal Catholic values rather than racial identity. A Vatican spokesperson noted,
“His Holiness sees his role as uniting all people, regardless of background.”
This suggests the Pope prioritizes a global spiritual identity over ethnic or racial labels.
Yet, his stance has sparked discussion. New Orleans’ Catholic community, proud of its Black Catholic heritage, calls him the “Gumbo Pope,” embracing his roots even if he doesn’t. Some critics argue his rejection of Black identity overlooks the resilience of his ancestors, while others see it as a personal choice shaped by a complex past.
