HNOC in the News

CBS Mornings: What to Know about Pope Leo XIV’s Ancestry

May 27, 2025

It was recently revealed that new pope has Louisiana Creole ancestry. Jari Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, made the discovery and joined “CBS Mornings Plus” to explain.

A screen capture of HNOC historian Jari Honora appearing on CBS Mornings.

Courtesy of CBS News

“According to the birth certificate for the Holy Father’s maternal grandfather, he was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1864. Both of the grandfather’s parents were from New Orleans . . . . Right now, our research is leading us to believe that the Martinez line is actually from Prague. They were actually Czech and the name was [originally] ‘Martinec.’”

Jari Honora, HNOC Family Historian

Watch the Interview

It was recently revealed that new pope has Louisiana Creole ancestry. Jari Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, made the discovery and joined “CBS Mornings Plus” to explain.

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First Draft

From the French Quarter to the Vatican

Shortly after Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the first American pope, HNOC’s Jari C. Honora uncovered a surprising New Orleans connection, revealing the pontiff’s maternal grandparents to be Creoles of color from the Seventh Ward.

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HNOC in the News

CNN: Pope Leo XIV has Creole Lineage, New Orleans Genealogist Says

May 9, 2025

Jari C. Honora, a family historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection, shared his research and records with CNN.

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HNOC in the News

NY Times: New Pope Has Creole Roots in New Orleans, Genealogist Says

May 8, 2025

Read about how HNOC family historian Jari C. Honora uncovered the family history of Robert Prevost, just hours after he was announced as the next pope.

HNOC in the News

NOLA.com: Pope Leo XIV has Roots in New Orleans’s 7th Ward

May 8, 2025

Less than two hours after his papacy was announced, HNOC family historian Jari C. Honora traced the new pope’s lineage back to the Crescent City.

Research

Genealogy Resources

Our experts at the Williams Research Center are available to help you dive into your family history.

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What’s the Difference Between Cajun and Creole—Or Is There One?

The answers are tied up in race, class, language, and, of course, history.

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HNOC in the News

NPR: Why Black Catholics in New Orleans Feel a Special Connection to Pope Leo XIV

June 5, 2025

HNOC family historian Jari Honora spoke with “All Things Considered” about the new pope’s Creole ancestry and what it means for residents of the 7th Ward.