Is Pope Leo XIV. African American?
Pope Leo XIV, in office since Thursday, is the first Pontifex to come from the United States of America – because Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955. According to a report by the “New York Times” But he could also be the first Pope with roots in Africa. Because his grandparents were the Haitian Joseph Martinez and the Kreolin Louise Baquié from New Orleans.
Gelasius I and Miltiades – and Leo XIV.
There was already Pope Gelasius I in the 5th century, who was « African » as origin in contemporary sources. And there was Pope Miltiades in the 4th century, and he said that he was « probably North African ». But as expected, the source situation at these early popes is thin – in contrast to the documentation to which the « New York Times » relies.
The pope’s grandparents are listed in various historical documents as « black » or « mulatto ». They lived in the 7th district of New Orleans, a Catholic quarter by living people with African, Caribbean but also European roots. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Marrago couple moved to Chicago, where her seventh daughter, Mildred, was born – the mother of the later Pope. Leo’s grandparents from France came from France, his father was born in the United States.
Leo XIV is the exact alternative to the US President
A family researcher from New Orleans, Jari C. Honora, pointed out the newspaper at the end of last week. For Honora it is clear: « Joseph Norval Martinez and Louise Baquié were ‘People of Color’, no doubt, » says the newspaper. Honora’s evidence is the couple from 1887, which was issued in New Orleans, the birth certificate of daughter Mildred from 1912 and a census document (« Census ») from 1900. In this latter list, Joseph Martinez is listed as « Black », his place of birth as « Hayti », his job with « cigar maker ».
However, it does not have to be what looks like a clear thing for the historian Honora: Pope Leo’s older brother, John Prevost, confirmed the results of the research, but is cited with the words that the family has not identified as black – the Creole roots were « no topic », said Prevost.
The « New York Times » winds up a bit floral for a clear conclusion: « As for the Pope’s ethnic identity, these findings touch some of the most delicate questions of the US society, but at the same time they also reflect the diversity of what means ‘American’. »
Kreolen in Louisiana
The term “Creoles of Color” usually refers to people in Louisiana who were already born there, but descend from people from Africa – to distinguish from the term “Creoles”, who also described people in Louisiana during colonial times. The name could be applied to both slaves and « freely born », so later the term « Gens de Couleur Libres » was also sung.
These freely born Creole, which would also include Pope Leo’s ancestors, were mainly French-speaking (« Louisiana French »), Roman Catholic and educated. Like white landowners, they could be, there were also Creole slave owners – who in many cases tried to free family members. Numerous well-known musicians from the New Orleans jazz such as Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet or Kid Ory come from the ranks of the Creoles.
