Pope Leo XIV’s star-studded family tree connects him to Madonna, two pop icons and an Oscar winner
As a devoted admirer, I find myself intriguingly linked to some of Tinseltown’s cherished icons, such as the inimitable Madonna herself, under the reign of Pope Leo XIV.
As a devoted fan and admirer, I myself found it intriguing when it came to light that despite my idol, the Queen of Pop, having a contentious history with the Catholic Church following the release of her provocative Like a Prayer music video, she shares a family tie with the newly appointed Pope, who is also 69 years old.
During an interview with The New York Times, renowned genealogist Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of PBS’ show Finding Your Roots, disclosed a surprising fact: they are ninth cousins, albeit separated by multiple generations.
By exploring the ancestry of the first American pope, Gates found out that Pope Leo XIV, who was originally known as Robert Francis Prevost, and Madonna are distantly connected via a maternal ancestor from the late 16th century.
Gates mentioned that the Pope shares a common ancestor with many distant Canadian relatives, specifically Louis Boucher de Grandpre, who was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.
Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, the Trudeaus (Pierre and Justin), and Jack Kerouac are all included in this group.
This group consists of Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, the Trudeau brothers (Pierre and Justin), and Jack Kerouac.
Or even more casually: Angelina Jolie, Hilary Clinton, Justin Bieber, the Trudeaus (father and son), and Jack Kerouac are all part of this collective.
Madonna promptly posted an Instagram update, sharing a picture of them together, and labeling him as her “somewhat-removed family member” in the caption.
For over three decades, I’ve found myself at odds with my religious upbringing, specifically the Catholic Church, due to my personal beliefs and experiences as a practicing artist.
Back in 1989, she was condemned by the Vatican State and multiple Popes of the Catholic Church.
1989 saw her confronting criticism due to the provocative nature of her Like a Prayer music video, which included images of burning crosses and an sensual portrayal of Jesus.
During that period, Pope John Paul II urged supporters to avoid attending Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour in Italy and refrain from participating in 1990.
Later on, in the year 2006, Madonna faced criticism once more due to her performance of a simulated crucifixion during a concert held in Rome that same year.
Based on the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ersilio Tonino announced that she would be subjected to excommunication, as reported by The Independent.
He had earlier expressed his disapproval, stating that this time, boundaries have been excessively crossed. In his view, her provocative stage acts are an offensive insult to religious beliefs and a desecration of the cross. His stance is that she should be removed from the church community due to these actions.
Previously, I faced criticism from the church not only for my concert during the Who’s That Girl Tour in Italy back in 1987, but also for my Pepsi advertisement in 1989 and the launch of my first book, Sex, in 1992.
In December 2024, she caused a strong wave of criticism when she posted AI-created photos featuring her alongside Pope Francis.
The false pictures depicted the Pope appearing to have a somewhat intimate gesture, standing with an arm wrapped around her waist while his face was quite near to hers.
2 years ago, she posted a tweet to Pope Francis requesting a meeting to talk about some significant issues; specifically, her actions that were perceived as disrespectful towards religious beliefs.
In that moment, she addressed Pope Francis on Twitter, requesting an audience with him: “Hello @Pontifex Francis — I am a devoted Catholic. I assure you, I don’t use profanity! It’s been quite some time since my last confession. Could we perhaps arrange a meeting to discuss some crucial topics? I find myself excommunicated three times. It appears unfair. Warm regards, Madonna.
Leo XIV was elected as pope on May 8, 2025 following Pope Francis’s death on April 21, 2025.
On Monday, Al Pacino became the first movie star to meet Pope Leo XIV.
Over the course of his papacy, Pope Francis interacted with numerous famous personalities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Andrea Bocelli, Katy Perry, and Martin Scorsese.
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2025-06-17 20:05