Pope Leo XIV: An American-Born Leader with Complex Roots
Pope Leo XIV, elected as the first American-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has a family background that highlights complicated relationships tied to race in his hometown.
The new Pope is linked to Robert Prebble, 69, through his maternal grandfather. Genealogist Chris Smothers reports that Leo’s grandfather, Joseph Martinez, noted Haiti as his birthplace on his 1887 marriage license to Louise Bakier.
Bakier, according to her birth record, was born in New Orleans, where she reportedly tied the knot in a local Catholic church.
Census records from 1900 show that Joseph and Louise lived in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans. Their home was among many demolished to construct roads for an elevated expressway connecting the outskirts to the renowned French Quarter.
These records indicate that both of Leo’s maternal grandparents were identified as Black when the census was conducted. Similarly, two of his aunts were classified as such a few years later, also born in New Orleans.
By 1920, the Martinez family relocated to Chicago, escaping the racial intolerance of the South. At that time, Mildred Agnes Martinez, who would later become the Pope’s mother, was just eight years old. Interestingly, the census of that decade listed her as white.
It wasn’t until 1954 that the US Supreme Court overruled the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring racism unconstitutional. Some genealogists believe that the Martinez family may have deliberately altered their racial identity when they moved to Chicago.
Jali Onora, a family historian, suggested that we can understand why there might have been an attempt to obscure heritage, asserting that life is often precarious for people of color.
Mildred eventually married Louis Marius Prevost, an educator and wartime librarian. Together, they raised three sons in Chicago, and their youngest son, Robert, became a priest in 1982, later leading the Augustinian religious order and being elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023. He has taken on a role at the Vatican responsible for selecting new bishops globally.
The year 2023 saw the United States record about 47.8 million immigrants, with most holding naturalized citizenship or legal residency.
As Donald Trump wrapped up his second term, his administration focused on immigration enforcement, which included increased detentions and deportations, particularly once he returned to office in January.
After two days of Conclave, Leo was chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis, shortly after Trump’s second presidency began. His older brother, John Prebble, who heads Catholic schools in Chicago, expressed concerns over ongoing immigration issues.
Many on social media quickly engaged with accounts believed to belong to Leo, indicating a readiness to critique the administration. One post drew attention for re-sharing an article where a California bishop made an inappropriate comment about certain Mexicans.
While there are several challenges ahead for Leo, it’s unclear how significantly he plans to address the global superpower’s concerns. He hasn’t spoken much about his racial identity in public.
John Prebble noted that discussions about their Louisiana roots were virtually absent among the brothers. He added that he has not identified as Black.
Vatican News stated that Leo’s father was of French and Italian descent, while his mother claimed Spanish ancestry.
Professor Kim R. Harris from Loyola Mellymount University remarked that Leo’s papacy could lead to a deeper understanding of American identity and the diaspora experience, suggesting it could broaden perspectives for everyone.
Reflecting on the historical weight Leo carries, Harris mentioned that it could introduce a new viewpoint for all of us.
