Pope Leo's family tree shows ties to a prominent Creole family of color in Louisiana
'His rise is not just a religious milestone, it's a historical affirmation,' genealogist and former official Louisiana state archivist Alex DaPaul Lee said of the man previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost.
When Lee first heard about the pope's Creole roots from fellow genealogist Jamarlon Glenn, he responded, 'There's no way,' Lee said with a laugh. 'But then I began going down a rabbit hole of research.'
Lee, the founder of Alex Genealogy and Southwest Louisiana Genealogy Researchers, discovered troves of documents in his collection and gathered records from his network of genealogists that confirmed information about Pope Leo's background. It also showed generations of Catholicism within Prevost's family.
'It didn't take long for me to realize that he was a Creole from the seventh ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, which was a prominent place for Louisiana Creoles,' he said.
The news of the pope's Creole roots was also noted by genealogist Jari C. Honora. Leo's brother John Prevost confirmed the connection to The New York Times and said he and his brothers had never talked about it. 'It was never an issue,' John Prevost told the Times.
Although his paternal surname, 'Prevost,' is common in Louisiana, Lee said a strong Creole connection was actually found in Pope Leo's maternal ancestry: His great-great-grandmother Celeste Lemelle was the daughter of two free people of color, Louis Lemelle and Celeste Olimpie Grandpres. They married in Opelousas, Louisiana, in 1798, and were legally classified as 'quadroons.'
'That meant they would have a fourth African ancestry or it could have been Native American ancestry,' Lee said.
The Creole community emerged in Louisiana due to the blending of cultures there. French, Native American, Spanish, German and descendants of West African countries all cohabitated in the region during the pre-colonial era when France and Spain owned the Louisiana territory.
In Louisiana during the 1700s, there were three main racial categories: the enslaved, Gens de Couleur Libres (free people of color/Creoles of color) and the white planter class, according to Lee.
The classifications within the Creole community were based on legal status and racial identity, with other categories like 'mulatto' and 'octoroon' often showing up within historic documents, Lee said. He added that there were also Creoles of color who owned enslaved people at the time. Documentation shows that the Lemelle family once owned enslaved people.
Lee said the Lemelle family, which traced its wealth to cattle ranching, became one of the most prominent Creole families during the Antebellum period in Louisiana.
The pope's great-great-grandmother Celeste Lemelle was a free woman of color and documents show she was given earnings from a business owned by Ferdinand Gayarré in December of 1833. In addition, she was also given land in 1850 from Frédéric Guimont, a merchant whom she had several children with. The transaction was irrevocable as a way to protect her ownership of it, Lee said.
'One of the most significant things about Louisiana was that women could own property and they have been owning property since its early inception, especially free women of color,' Lee said.
Lee pointed out where the change of racial identity can be seen within Pope Leo's family during the 1800s.
Celeste Lemelle's son Ferdinand David Baquie, born in New Orleans on Oct. 10, 1837, was listed as 'mulatto' in the 1870 census. But in 1880, he and his entire family were listed as white.
In terms of how Pope Leo's family ended up in Illinois, Lee said his family was likely part of the hundreds of other Louisiana Creoles who migrated north during the first wave of the Great Migration in the early 1900s.
'Illinois was once part of the Louisiana territory. They had an old post by the name of Kaskaskia where they had some of the earliest Creole people,' Lee said, adding that people of color would have had more job opportunities and better civil liberties in the northern state.
'Considering the fact that many of these families passed for white in Chicago meant they were going to have more success, regardless, because of their appearance.'
Lee said it's notable that the pope's racial background reflects the diverse blends of cultures that have historically merged to form the unique identity of Louisiana.
'In America, a lot of people think everything is just Black or white,' he said. 'But it's important to note that the pope's ancestry represents a more inclusive view of what it means to be a Catholic, and what it means to be an American with Louisiana Creole ties. This is more than just genealogy, it's a legacy.'
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
4 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Who was Rahaman Ali? Inside the life and family of Muhammad Ali's younger brother
Rahaman Ali, the younger brother of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, has passed away at the age of 82. A quiet but steady presence in Muhammad's life, Rahaman was more than just a sibling — he was a boxer, author, and lifelong supporter of his brother's journey both inside and outside the ring. A Humble Beginning Born Rudolph Arnett Clay on July 18, 1943, in Louisville, Kentucky, Rahaman was raised in a close-knit Christian household alongside his older brother, Cassius Clay Jr., who later became the global icon known as Muhammad Ali. Following in his brother's footsteps, Rahaman also converted to Islam and adopted the name by which the world would come to know him: Rahaman Ali. Their parents, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay, instilled discipline and values in both brothers — and it was this grounding that helped shape their lifelong bond. Life in the Ring While his brother lit up the world stage, Rahaman quietly built his own boxing career. He fought professionally from 1964 to 1972, compiling a respectable record of 14 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with 7 of those wins coming by knockout. He may never have reached the same level of fame, but Rahaman was known for his technique, heart, and unwavering sportsmanship. He also played a crucial role in his brother's success — serving as a sparring partner and traveling companion throughout Muhammad's career. Inside Rahaman Ali's Family Life Rahaman Ali was born into a working-class African-American family in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1943. He was the younger of two sons born to Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., a sign painter and muralist, and Odessa Grady Clay, a domestic worker and devout Baptist. The Clays raised their sons with strong values, discipline, and deep pride in their heritage — a foundation that shaped both Rahaman and Muhammad's future. Devoted Brother and Author Rahaman was always by Muhammad's side — during his prime, in the face of controversy, and even through his battles with Parkinson's disease. He was more than just a sibling; he was part of the foundation that supported the champion behind the scenes. In later years, Rahaman documented his experiences through books. He co-authored two significant works: That's Muhammad Ali's Brother! My Life on the Undercard (2014), a personal memoir. My Brother, Muhammad Ali – The Definitive Biography (2019), a more in-depth account of their relationship and Ali's life, co-written with journalist Fiaz Rafiq. These books gave fans a unique glimpse into the private side of the global sports icon — told by the one person who knew him longest. Family Ties and Personal Life Rahaman Ali was a deeply family-oriented man. While he kept his personal life mostly private, those close to him describe him as gentle, kind, soft-spoken, and full of warmth. He remained in Louisville for most of his life, never straying far from the city that raised him and his brother. He was particularly close to Muhammad's children, especially Hana Ali, who often spoke of her 'Uncle Rock' with great affection. In a touching tribute after his passing, Hana remembered him as 'a sweet, peaceful soul with a playful spirit and that same light that made my father shine.' Rahaman's Final Days Rahaman Ali was admitted to Norton Audubon hospital on July 19, 2025, and later transferred to hospice care, where he passed away on August 1. The family has not yet released official funeral details, but a memorial is expected to be held at the Muhammad Ali Center. Tributes have poured in from fans, historians, and sports personalities alike, honoring Rahaman's quiet strength, humility, and the profound role he played in one of boxing's greatest stories. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Washington Post
10 hours ago
- Washington Post
My friends are having an affair. How can we stay friends?
My dad has two sugar babies and asked me to lie to my mom May 10, 2025
Chicago Tribune
12 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
New Wilmette Junior High Principal Baffico, with 29 years' experience, plans to boost school community
Jon Baffico was attracted to his new job as principal of Wilmette Junior High School by the school's 'community feel,' he said. Baffico said the same thing drew him to his previous positions at four schools over the last 29 years, including 25 years as a Catholic school teacher and principal and four years as an assistant principal at Algonquin Middle School. 'There was never anything in particular that moved me from one school to another, other than just being part of a community, family feel – and that is important to me,' he said. 'What drew me here was a similar feel.' Baffico called Wilmette Junior High, at 620 Locust Road, the 'flagship school' of Wilmette Public Schools District 39. 'This is unique. We have a middle school and this is a junior high. What's unique is we operate a little like both,' he said. 'We're helping prepare students for high school and beyond. There is a tremendous responsibility and pride and community feel to the school.' Baffico served as principal of St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights for the last three years and before that as principal of St. Patrick High School in Chicago for nine years. He started as a math teacher and coach at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein for 13 years. 'The communal aspect definitely resonates at Catholic schools,' he said. 'I don't have a preference (between public and Catholic schools). I believe I was chosen here because I have high school experience and I have middle school experience, so I understand the team approach behind both concepts.' Baffico said his most important goals as principal are building community, providing transitional support, helping meet and identify goals under the district's strategic plans, and restoring school traditions that were lost during the pandemic. 'By building a sense of community with students, faculty and parents, you work on establishing relationships with people,' he said. 'If you don't have really good relationships, it's hard to accomplish mechanical tasks.' Baffico wants to help create good transitional tools for students moving from Highcrest Middle School, which serves fifth- and sixth-graders, to the junior high, which serves seventh- and eight-graders. 'There should be a crossover between the two,' he said. 'They should feel very similar.' District 39 recently completed one strategic plan and is launching a new one this year, Baffico said. 'I want to be able to assist and help solidify goals established by the strategic plan as we finish one and begin another this year,' he said. 'It will be great to have my input as we build toward the future.' Baffico plans to create a committee to help identify some of the traditions and parts of the school's culture that were lost during the pandemic. 'I've heard bits and pieces,' he said. 'I don't know exactly what that looks like yet. I will find out more when everyone comes back to school.' The school has already built a high-achieving student community with very supportive parents who have provided the resources to support that growth, Baffico said. 'What we need to work on, from a leadership standpoint having some consistency, is systematically trying to figure out ways to find out if we have good processes, so during transitions they are seamless,' he said. 'That's not to say they are not seamless, but just that there might be pieces we can strengthen moving forward.' One significant change this school year will be the addition of an extended homeroom period – about 25 minutes – every day, he said. 'This is to allow more social-emotional learning support and intervention support for students,' Baffico said. 'From a curriculum standpoint, that is an important piece happening. But it's not new. Just the time allotted for it will be new and consistent.' Baffico has three daughters, a senior at the University of Colorado, a sophomore at the University of Illinois and a junior at Libertyville High School. School starts in District 39 on Aug. 20, with an early release, and the first full day of school is Aug. 21.
