When Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, he made history as the first American pope — and instantly became one of the most talked-about figures on the planet.
But no one could have predicted the wild family twist that would follow.
Thanks to a deep genealogical dive by Henry Louis Gates Jr. (host of PBS’ Finding Your Roots) and The New York Times, the world has learned that the new pontiff is not just a global religious leader — he's also related to some of the biggest names in pop culture.
And yes, that includes the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna!
A Pope and a Pop Icon
Genealogists from American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami traced Pope Leo’s lineage back to the early 1500s. One of the most fascinating discoveries? A shared ancestor with Madonna: Louis Boucher de Grandpre, born in the Quebec city of Trois-Rivières.
Through this 17th-century connection, Pope Leo and Madonna are ninth cousins, various times removed. And they’re not alone.
Other celebrities connected to the Pope through the same ancestor include Justin Bieber, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Jack Kerouac, and both Pierre and Justin Trudeau.
“Wait, Pope Leo XIV is actually a distant relative of Madonna?! That’s such a wild and iconic connection, like, royalty meets pop royalty? I’m obsessed with this tea,” one fan raved on X.
“Papa don't preach but her distant relative does,” joked another, with one X user quipping: "'Like a Prayer' was real".
“This is just so random, like two completely different vibes,” someone else posted.
Madonna Responds
Madonna wasted no time embracing the family connection.
She posted a playful black-and-white photo with her father Silvio Ciccone and captioned it with a nod to her iconic hit: “Silvio! We’re related to the Pope! Strike a pose!”
It’s especially ironic considering the 'Like a Prayer' singer’s turbulent history with the Catholic Church.
Over the years, Madonna’s provocative use of religious imagery has led to multiple excommunications, public condemnations, and clashes with past popes.
“Hello @Pontifex Francis — I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear! It’s been a few decades since my last confession,” she tweeted in 2022. “Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been excommunicated three times. It doesn’t seem fair. Sincerely, Madonna.”
The People’s Pope: American Roots and Global Reach
Born in Chicago to Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez, Pope Leo XIV’s upbringing was humble — but powerful. His family includes two older brothers, John and Louis, who weren’t surprised by his path.
“Some people play school, some people play army, he played priest, and we had to go to Mass,” said his brother John, per PEOPLE. “He knew right then and there that this is not a joke… The women down the street said he would be the first American pope.”
Pope Leo also has deep Creole roots from New Orleans, with ancestors that include noblemen, enslaved people, slaveowners of both Black and white heritage, and “free persons of color.”
According to The New York Times, at least 17 of his ancestors were described in historical records as “mulatto,” “mulatress,” “quadroon,” or “free person of color.”
In his first Sunday blessing on May 11, Pope Leo wasted no time in declaring his vision: “Never again war,” he told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square.
He called for a ceasefire in Gaza, peace in Ukraine, and diplomatic resolution between India and Pakistan. A known critic of former President Donald Trump, Pope Leo also made headlines in 2018 for retweeting a post by Cardinal Blase Cupich condemning U.S. immigration policy: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.”
As the internet continues to process this unexpected connection between the papacy and pop royalty, fans are joking about a potential summit between Pope Leo and Madonna.
Could she finally get that face-to-face she’s been asking for — this time with her cousin?
Whether or not the “Queen of Pope” and the Pope ever link up in person, one thing’s for sure: Pope Leo XIV is already proving to be one of the most interesting figures to ever wear the papal robe.