The Father, the Son and the Hollywood cousins.
As it happens, the recently installed Pope Leo XIV (formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost) boasts a remarkable pedigree that is unusually connected to the world of celebrities.
As revealed by “Finding Your Roots” host Henry Louis Gates Jr., Pope Leo, who was born in Chicago, shares a distant family connection with celebrities like Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie. This connection can be traced back to a common maternal ancestor from the 1590s.
I’m absolutely thrilled to be connected, however distantly, to some truly remarkable individuals! Among my notable ninth cousins are the charismatic politicians like Hillary Clinton and the dynamic Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. His father, Pierre Trudeau, another former Prime Minister of Canada, is also part of this distinguished lineage. Not forgetting the legendary writer, Jack Kerouac, whose works have inspired generations! What a privilege to share ancestry with such luminaries!
Henry’s exploration uncovered that the new pope’s ancestry mirrors the extensive immigration history of America. Among Pope Leo’s forebears, some were born in France, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Canada, Haiti, and the French Caribbean region Guadeloupe.
Pope Leo’s elevation signifies a historic moment as it represents the first instance of a person from North America being chosen to lead the Catholic Church. Remarkably, his inaugural address as Pope centered around the concept of transcending international barriers.
Pope Leo expressed, on May 8, in the presence of countless spectators at St. Peter’s Square within the Vatican, that our church should be one that functions as a missionary, continually building bridges to embrace all people. He likened it to this very square, where we welcome everyone with charity, conversation, and love.
In reference to the final Easter blessing Pope Francis shared before his passing on April 21, the newly appointed pope continued with a similar message: “I would like to continue that same blessing. May I remind you that God loves everyone, and evil will not triumph in the end. Trusting in God’s guidance, we move forward together without fear.
The very name he selected – Pope Leo – hints at the type of spiritual figure the American pope aspires to become.
Pope Leo XIII, who ruled the church from 1878 to 1903, earned his reputation as the “Social Pope” and the “Pope of the Working Class.” He was recognized for his intelligence and progressive mindset.
Cledier Pérez Mejía, a Peruvian Deacon who collaborated with the future Pope Leo, explained to NBC News why he chose this particular name. He said, “I think the name he selected carries significance too: Pope Leo XIII was instrumental in balancing modernity and the old order. By adopting this name, he seems to be signaling his intentions for a challenging time like ours.
The new pope’s brother likewise spoke to the road Pope Leo will likely choose to travel.
In an interview with The New York Times on May 8th, John Prevost stated that the most fitting description for him currently is that he is likely to emulate Francis, as they were close friends and had known each other prior to Francis becoming Pope and John’s brother assuming the role of bishop.
John went on to say, ‘I believe there will be a moderate approach rather than an extreme one. It’s hard to predict exactly what he’ll do, but I’m certain he won’t remain inactive. He won’t keep quiet about it.’
However, it’s not just Pope Leo who boasts unexpected ties to Hollywood. Prepare to discover other celebrities whose familial bonds might take you by surprise!
In the episode of “Finding Your Roots” airing on April 2, host Henry Louis Gates Jr discovered that Lena Dunham and Larry David share a distant relative on Dunham’s maternal lineage.
Researcher Dr. Adina Newman, also known as My Family Genie on Instagram, has unveiled a potential family connection between Blanchard and the former star of ‘Vanderpump Rules.’ The pair are said to be distantly related through their paternal grandmothers’ lineage, tracing back to the 1600s.
Schroeder, a self-professed true crime fan, commented on Newman’s post, “Omg I’m unwell.”
For two decades, the actor who played Zorro was married to Melanie Griffith, who is known for her role in “Fifty Shades of Grey”. However, their divorce in 2015 didn’t break the connection between him and his stepdaughter.
Johnson got emotional when she presented an award to Banderas at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.
Johnson shared that she’s fortunate to have not just one father figure, but two, as her dad is actor Don Johnson. She mentioned that over the years, the man her mom married turned out to be incredibly impactful in her life. When she was six, her mother wed a man who introduced an incredibly radiant light, a whole new realm of creativity and culture, and a delightful little sister to their family.
The actress from “Teen Witch” and the former cast member of “Gossip Girl” are sisters by the same mother, renowned talent manager Elaine Lively.
The daughter of the veteran “Saturday Night Live” cast member was born from his relationship with the ex-model, London King, who is also known for her work as a singer on the hit song “Ex’s & Oh’s.
The Fast and Furious actor shares a familial bond with the R&B artist because they both have a common step-relative: Reverend Edward Best, who is also the uncle of the rapper.
The late-night host and the Rescue Me creator are third cousins.
Since marrying Kate Capshaw in 1991, Steven Spielberg, once known for his role on Grey’s Anatomy, has been referred to as her stepfather.
The star of “Grown-ish” refers to the rapper as her second cousin. In fact, she served as the flower girl at his 2005 wedding with former wife Kelis!
The actress is the daughter of the Back to the Future icon.
Apart from gaining recognition for portraying a well-known character on HBO’s comedy series as a Veep vet, she is indeed a famed figure in reality too. It so happens that the renowned Jack Bauer star is her biological father.
Some viewers of “Emily in Paris” were quite surprised to find out that Lily is the daughter of the English Grammy-winning artist.
The comedian and the New York Senator are actually related, as he’s the first cousin of her father.
In a 2014 interview with People, I learned that a genealogist from Ancestry.com traced both the Fannings and Princess Diana as descendants of King Edward III, who reigned over England between 1327 and 1377. This means we share a rather distant family bond, being 21st cousins.
The actors are actually brother and sister!
Inborn skill is a common trait in their lineage, as relatives who have appeared on “Reno 911!”, “Orange Is the New Black”, and “This Is Us” are all cousins.
In January 2024, Nash posted on Instagram, “We’re family by blood!” alongside a picture of the three of them at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Third Annual Fundraising Gala. “True kinship!
The SNL alum calls the Cheers icon Uncle George whenever he sees him. At least, we assume he does.
Yep, Game of Thrones‘ Stannis Baratheon is the real-life dad of Fear the Walking Dead‘s Nick Clark.
In simpler terms, let’s say the charming brunette and the artist known for “Stay With Me” share a connection as third cousins. In an on-air conversation, Smith openly disclosed that they’ve never crossed paths due to the extensive size of their family.
The Salt actor and the memorable Law & Order: SVU guest star are half-brothers.
You may not have guessed but the Bridesmaids comedian and the former View co-host are cousins.
The actress from “The We’re the Millers” movie is fortunate to have the “Pretty Woman” star as a guide, and interestingly enough, they are aunt and niece.
Who knew the stunning Dancing With the Stars pro is second cousins with the Friends alum?
The actor playing the vampire on True Blood developed a passion for acting, inspired by his father who appears in both the Avengers and Thor movie series.
The actor who plays Ghost Rider hails from a remarkably gifted family lineage. One of his cousins is known for directing “The Bling Ring”, another graced the screen in “Saving Mr. Banks”, and his uncle has the distinction of having directed “The Godfather”.
The vocal, British-born artist is the elder sibling of the renowned actor from ‘Game of Thrones.’ Notably, she penned a track dedicated to him called “Alfie.
The Damages star and the Lipstick Jungle actress are second cousins.
Initially, the actress from “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” served as an inspiration for her little brother to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
The Parks and Recreation actress is the daughter of the legendary music producer.
The Lost actor has a very famous cousin in the Mission: Impossible star.
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2025-06-17 19:47