Overview

• Researchers identified Louis Boucher de Grandpre as a common ancestor, making Pope Leo XIV ninth cousins with Madonna, Justin Bieber, Angelina Jolie and others.
• Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff possesses African American, French, Italian and Spanish roots spanning five centuries.
• Genealogists found eight ancestors who were enslavers and multiple forebears who were enslaved, highlighting a complex legacy of slavery and freedom.
• Madonna marked the discovery on Instagram with a photo of her and her father accompanied by a playful caption about their shared kinship.
• He was elected on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis and becoming the first American pontiff.