The Catholic Church has elected a new pope: Cardinal Robert Prevost, an Augustinian from the United States, who will lead the Church as Pope Leo XIV. He becomes the first North American and first member of the Augustinian order to ascend to the papacy, choosing a name that honors Pope Leo XIII and signals a commitment to social justice.
According to a leading genealogist, Pope Leo XIV also carries African-Creole ancestry, a significant yet understated part of his diverse heritage.
A Historic Election
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, 2025, following a short conclave that concluded on its second day. The result, traditionally kept under Vatican seal, was announced with white smoke rising over St. Peter’s Square. Later that evening, he greeted a cheering crowd of over 100,000 from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the beginning of a new era.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Robert Prevost entered the Order of Saint Augustine at 22, after graduating from Villanova University in 1977. He was ordained in 1982 and served as a missionary in Peru for 13 years, working with Caritas Peru. His leadership roles followed quickly: provincial of the Chicago Augustinians in 1998, then prior general of the global Augustinian order in 2001, a role that brought him back to Rome for over a decade.
In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and in 2023, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals.
Roots: African-Creole Heritage and American Upbringing
While Pope Leo XIV has not spoken publicly about his racial background, U.S. Census records show that his mother, Mildred Martinez, was the daughter of Joseph Martinez, a Haitian-born Black property owner, and Louise Baquié, a Creole woman from New Orleans. His mixed heritage includes African, French, Italian, and Spanish roots.
This marks a symbolic moment for many, especially as St. Augustine, the spiritual father of Pope Leo’s order, was himself an African. For centuries, the Church and scholars often described Augustine narrowly as a “North African Roman,” minimizing his African identity. But institutions like Villanova University are working to reclaim Augustine’s African heritage as part of their anti-racist mission.
Legacy of Pope Francis and Hopes for Continuity
Pope Leo XIV steps into the role following the death of Pope Francis, who was widely regarded as the “Pope of the poor” and a powerful advocate for migrants, justice, and peace—especially in Africa. Francis’ first papal trip outside Rome, in 2013, was to Lampedusa, where he condemned the “global indifference” to the plight of migrants.
He made five visits to ten African countries, including a bold trip to Bangui in the Central African Republic in 2015, amid civil war. In his final African visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023, Francis urged world powers:
“Stop asphyxiating Africa. This continent is not a mine to be robbed, or a land of pillage. Let Africa be a protagonist of its own destiny.”
Although Pope Francis’s openness to LGBTQ+ inclusion met resistance among some African churches, he was consistently welcomed by large crowds across the continent.
“For us, it does not matter whether he is African, white, or Black,” said by Luka Lawrence Ndenge a little bit before the conclave; an emergency officer with Caritas in Wau, South Sudan.
“What matters is having a good, holy pope who can unite Catholics across the world.”
While Pope Leo XIV is not African by nationality, he is no stranger to the continent. Between 2001 and 2016, he visited Nigeria nine times, mostly as prior general of the Augustinian order. In 2024, as bishop of Chiclayo, he visited Kenya, presiding over the dedication of the Marian Grotto and the Church of Mother of Good Counsel at the Augustinian Monastery in Nairobi’s Karen district.
Africa Connection: Leo XIV’s Familiarity with the Continent
There are currently 29 African cardinals, with 18 eligible voters in the recent conclave—many appointed by Pope Francis. The growing African presence in the College of Cardinals signals a shift in the Church’s global center of gravity.
A Papacy Shaped by Fraternity
According to Father Barnaby Johns, who has known Pope Leo XIV for two decades, the new pontiff’s leadership will reflect the Augustinian emphasis on community and fraternity.
“Augustinians live as brothers, seeking unity over individualism,” said Fr. Johns.
“His papacy will have the Augustinian heart at its center—a profound sense of fraternity.”
A New Era Begins
In his first address to the College of Cardinals after his election, Pope Leo XIV praised the legacy of Pope Francis and confirmed his own commitment to social issues and a progressive agenda.
By embracing his Augustinian identity, his diverse heritage, and a clear vision for justice and unity, Pope Leo XIV’s papacy may well represent both continuity and renewal—a bridge between continents, communities, and traditions.