Pope Leo Reflects on Family's Dual Legacy of Slavery

WHO:

CNN - Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff

CNN - Henry Louis Gates Jr., scholar who conducted research on Pope Leo's ancestry

CNN - President Donald Trump, former president of the United States

WHAT:

CNN - Pope Leo XIV revealed his family history includes both enslaved people and slave owners.

CNN - The pope expressed his love for America, highlighting its “sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity” and its welcoming nature towards immigrants.

CNN - Pope Leo XIV stated, “They will see me there,” regarding a potential visit to the US.

CNN - The pope's ancestors included both slave owners and enslaved people, as revealed by research.

CNN - Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in slavery.

WHERE:

CNN - Vatican Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, where the pope spoke to reporters.

CNN - New Orleans, where the pope's maternal grandparents lived.

WHEN:

CNN - The pope mentioned the possibility of visiting the US within the next two years, likely in 2027.

WHY:

CNN - The pope criticized the “inhuman” treatment of immigrants during Trump’s administration, indicating a motivation to advocate for compassion and generosity.

HOW:

CNN - The pope's remarks were made in response to a reporter's question about his American heritage.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 15:39 UTC)

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, recently revealed that his family history includes both enslaved people and slave owners, a finding supported by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. During a press conference in the Vatican Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, the pope expressed his love for America, emphasizing its welcoming nature towards immigrants and hinted at a potential visit to the U.S. in 2027, stating, “They will see me there.”