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Atlanta rapper, Kilo Ali once said, “America has a problem” and truer words have never been
spoken. In spite of America’s many problems – racism, colonialism, electing Donald Trump as
president, twice, Rome will receive its first American pope.
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago’s Southside, Pope Leo spent a third of his life in Peru
and another third in Italy. In Peru, he served as a missionary and gained dual citizenship.
Appointed by the late Pope Francis in 2023, Pope Leo has spent the last 2 years in Rome getting
to know the college of cardinals and training for formal duties as an aspiring pope. Pope Leo is
also on the younger side in modern history gaining pope status at only 69 years old.
In addition to being the first American Pope, Leo the 14 th ’s other notable first includes being the
first pope with African Diasporic ancestry. According to expert genealogist, Jari Honora, who
traced Pope Leo’s ancestry to Louisiana, Robert Prevost aka Pope Leo’s Mother Mildred
Martinez, was the mixed-race daughter of Black property owners—the Haitian born Joseph
Martinez and New Orleans native Louise Baquie.
His first speech to the Catholic Church in the Vatican was delivered in Italian and Spanish.
Already, displaying a level of multiculturalism that opposes the current xenophobia of the Trump
administration. Many are hopeful that Pope Leo will continue in the legacy of Pope Francis and
demonstrate a more progressive style of leadership as the Church of any denomination or
religion is often not a safe space for marginalized identities.
The Catholic Church in particular has a tarnished legacy around molestation. and Pope Leo will
have a huge burden to shoulder in improving the church’s reputation worldwide. He already
seems up to the challenge as he’s been found on record denouncing Donald Trump, JD Vance,
the death penalty and other controversial opinions found in conservative socio-political circles.
Having lived over half his life in Europe and Latin America, it seems fair to say that Pope Leo’s
Americanism is light as best. It seems safe to say that he will ignore cries of American
Exceptionalism and work to bring a much-needed humility and globalist perspective to
Americans, Catholic or otherwise, that will follow his career in the clergy.
Best of luck, Pope Leo!
