Henry Louis Gates Jr. Uncovers Shocking Celebrity Ties & Ancestral History of Pope Leo XIV in Historic Vatican Visit
The Finding Your Roots team just pulled off their most divine reveal yet—literally. On July 5, Henry Louis Gates Jr., the iconic genealogist and Emmy-nominated host of the beloved PBS series, flew to the Vatican for a private audience with none other than Pope Leo XIV. And let’s just say, the Pope’s family tree? It’s giving Hollywood-meets-history-meets-humanity.
In a deeply moving visit, Gates presented Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Prevost, the first American pontiff in history) with a detailed, 15-generation-deep dive into his ancestry. And the findings? Mind-blowing.
Turns out, the 69-year-old spiritual leader is distant cousins with Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Justin Bieber, Hillary Clinton, Jack Kerouac, and both Trudeaus (Pierre and Justin). According to Gates’ research, they all trace back to a common maternal ancestor born in the 1590s—making them ninth cousins (give or take a few “removeds”). Because who isn’t related in Hollywood, right?
But beyond the celeb connections, Gates’ research uncovered something far more powerful: Pope Leo XIV is of mixed Black and European ancestry. His lineage includes enslaved people as well as slaveholders, and even two freedom fighters. In short, the Pope’s story is the story of America itself—complicated, resilient, and richly intertwined.
“This was one of the most meaningful and deeply moving moments of our lives,” Gates shared on Instagram, alongside photos from the visit. He was joined by his wife, historian Dr. Marial Iglesias Utset, who helped bring this historic family tree to life. Together, they walked the Pope through five centuries of his lineage—stretching all the way back to his 12th great-grandparents.
Pope Leo’s roots are uniquely global. Born and raised in Chicago to an educator and librarian, he later served in Peru, becoming a dual citizen and bishop of Chiclayo before ascending to the global stage. And now? He’s quite literally the Pope with the most unexpected family reunion ever.
“Knowing where we come from, in all its beauty and brokenness, helps us understand who we are today,” Gates said in a statement. “And Pope Leo’s story, like so many others, reminds us that our identities are more connected than we could ever imagine.”
As one of Pope Leo’s brothers told ABC News, the spiritual leader’s path may have been foretold as early as first grade. But we’re guessing nobody predicted it would come with a Bieber connection.
So what’s next? Maybe a Finding Your Roots: Vatican Edition? Until then, you can catch new episodes Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on PBS or stream them online—because genealogy just got a heavenly upgrade.