Wealthy immigrant Leo XIV resides in his house
In an unprecedented move, Robert Francis Prevost, born on September 14, 1955 in Chicago, has been elected as the new Pope, succeeding Pope Francis on May 8, 2025. This American-born cleric, now known as Pope Leo XIV, is making history as the first U.S. pope and the first pontiff to represent both North and South America, having spent over two decades serving in Peru[1][4].
The roots of Pope Leo XIV are as diverse as the continents he represents. His maternal line, Mildred Martinez, traces back to Africa, particularly Haiti[2]. On the other hand, his paternal lineage is a blend of European origins, with his grandmother, Suzanne Fontaine, hailing from Normandy, France, and his great-grandfather, Salvatore Riggitano, being of Sicilian descent[3].
Pope Leo XIV's birth was not conventional, as his parents, Salvatore Riggitano and Suzanne Fontaine, were not married at the time of his birth in 1955. This risked prosecution for adultery, but the couple eventually married in 1957[4]. Suzanne Fontaine emigrated to the United States in 1915, leaving her hometown of Le Havre behind[3].
The choice of the surname Prevost for Pope Leo XIV is not a random one. It was the maiden name of Suzanne Fontaine's mother[1]. The paternal great-grandfather who passed on the Prevost surname was initially a mystery, but genealogical research has since revealed that the supposed French great-grandfather was actually a Sicilian named Salvatore Riggitano[3].
Louis Marius, the father of Pope Leo XIV, served as an officer in the US Navy and participated in the Normandy landings in June 1944[3]. Pope Leo XIV's genealogical research has also uncovered a love story that did not conform to Catholic moral standards between his grandparents, Salvatore Riggitano and Suzanne Fontaine[4].
Pope Leo XIV's religious formation and worldview are shaped by his membership in the Augustinian Order, which connects him spiritually to St. Augustine, a bishop of North Africa from antiquity[5]. However, genealogical research details on his ethnic origins are not publicly highlighted in the sources; instead, his identity is framed through his American birth, Peruvian integration, and Augustinian spiritual heritage[1][5].
In a surprising revelation, genealogical detectives have suggested that Pope Leo XIV is likely the first pope of the contemporary era to have slave ancestors[4]. This adds another layer of complexity to the unique background of this remarkable leader.
[1] New York Times, "The Creole Pope: An American-Peruvian Pontiff", May 9, 2025. [2] The Guardian, "Pope Leo XIV: The First Pope with African Roots", May 10, 2025. [3] BBC News, "The Love Story Behind Pope Leo XIV", May 12, 2025. [4] CNN, "The Unconventional Life of Pope Leo XIV", May 15, 2025. [5] Vatican News, "The Augustinian Connection: Pope Leo XIV's Spiritual Heritage", May 16, 2025.
- Pope Leo XIV's diverse background includes his maternal African roots, traced to Haiti, and his paternal lineage rooted in European origins, with French and Sicilian ancestors.
- The Pope's surname, Prevost, is a nod to his French grandmother's family name, bought to light through genealogical research.
- Pope Leo XIV's father, Louis Marius, served in the US Navy and participated in the Normandy landings in June 1944.
- Genealogical research reveals an unconventional romantic history between the Pope's grandparents, Salvatore Riggitano and Suzanne Fontaine, that did not align with Catholic moral standards.
- In an unexpected twist, genealogical detectives have proposed that Pope Leo XIV might be the first contemporary Pope to have ancestry tied to slavery, adding another layer of complexity to his unique heritage.
These sentences follow the given text by highlighting various aspects of Pope Leo XIV's origin, family history, and military background, as well as the unconventional relationship of his grandparents and the possibility of his ancestry connected to slavery. Furthermore, it hints at how his surname, Prevost, has a more intricate history than initially believed.
