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4mo ago

Cook County Archives Confirm Pope Leo XIV’s Grandfather’s Immigration and Teaching Career in Chicago

Newly authenticated records reveal Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano’s 1905 arrival from Italy, his work as a language teacher, and his incomplete citizenship process.

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The Declaration of Intention document of Pope Leo XIV’s paternal grandfather, Salvatore Riggitano, was found in the archives of the clerk's office of the Circuit Court of Cook County, May 22, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano, Pope Leo XIV’s paternal grandfather, was born in Milazzo, Italy, in 1876 and immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island in 1905.
  • Cook County records confirm Riggitano filed a Declaration of Intention to become a U.S. citizen in 1920 but never completed the naturalization process.
  • Riggitano worked as a language teacher in Chicago and operated the Riggitano-Prevost School of Languages, which advertised widely in local newspapers.
  • Genealogists linked Riggitano to the Prevost surname by matching birthdates and other records, confirming his connection to the pope’s family lineage.
  • The Cook County Clerk’s office has made these archival records publicly accessible, fostering interest in genealogy and the pope’s immigrant heritage.