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Pope Leo XIV's Ancestry Reveals 17 Black Ancestors

8/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Henry Louis Gates Jr. traced Pope Leo XIV's ancestry, uncovering a diverse family tree linked to freedom fighters and celebrities.
The pope has 17 Black ancestors and eight slave-holding ancestors, indicating complex historical connections.
Gates shared these findings with the pope in July, who showed interest in his Haitian roots.
This meeting will not be included in the next season of "Finding Your Roots."

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Story summary

Henry Louis Gates Jr. traced Pope Leo XIV's ancestry, uncovering a diverse family tree linked to freedom fighters and celebrities.
The pope has 17 Black ancestors and eight slave-holding ancestors, indicating complex historical connections.
Gates shared these findings with the pope in July, who showed interest in his Haitian roots.
This meeting will not be included in the next season of "Finding Your Roots."