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Madonna and Pope Leo XIV: Surprising Ninth Cousins Revealed

6/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Madonna and Pope Leo XIV share a surprising family bond as ninth cousins, a revelation from Henry Louis Gates Jr. Their lineage traces back to a 1590s ancestor in Quebec. The pop icon's provocative "Like a Prayer" video once sparked outrage from the Catholic Church, resulting in a canceled Pepsi ad, but in September 2023, Pepsi celebrated her artistic legacy.

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Story summary

Madonna and Pope Leo XIV share a surprising family bond as ninth cousins, a revelation from Henry Louis Gates Jr. Their lineage traces back to a 1590s ancestor in Quebec. The pop icon's provocative "Like a Prayer" video once sparked outrage from the Catholic Church, resulting in a canceled Pepsi ad, but in September 2023, Pepsi celebrated her artistic legacy.