That the new pontiff’s ancestry can be partially traced to a historic enclave of Afro-Caribbean culture in New Orleans has brought joy to some Catholics.

When news broke that Pope Leo XIV had Black and Creole ancestry, the internet practically broke. How could this white man be so deeply woven into the American south? But Black folks know the history of “white passing” is more common than you think.

America has great economic culture, political power and military power, and [for an American] to be heading the Church too, seemed to me not likely.”

The contrast between President Trump and Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV couldn’t be more stark, politically, personally, or in their world views.