Some stories feel stranger than fiction — and this one might just top them all. Imagine a man born in the heart of Chicago, rising through the Catholic Church to become the spiritual leader for over a billion people… only to discover he shares a family tree with none other than the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna.
Since his election to the papacy on May 8, Pope Leo XIV has already distinguished himself as a powerful, peace-driven voice, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 this past April. But now, it’s not just his policies and global leadership that people are talking about — it’s his jaw-dropping family history.
From the Pulpit to Pop Culture: A Surprising Genealogical Twist
Pope Leo’s roots were recently explored on the long-running PBS series Finding Your Roots, hosted by the ever-curious and meticulous Henry Louis Gates Jr.. The show, known for uncovering surprising truths buried deep in family lines, has previously stunned audiences with celebrity links to royalty, presidents, and revolutionaries.
But even Gates admitted this latest discovery was something special.
Thanks to an intensive genealogical collaboration between American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, researchers traced Pope Leo’s lineage back over 500 years — all the way to his 12th-great-grandparents, born in the early 1500s.
And somewhere along that long and winding ancestral path, a remarkable name popped up.
Madonna Louise Ciccone.
That’s right. According to records, Pope Leo XIV is ninth cousins (several times removed) with the iconic pop legend. Their shared ancestor, a woman born in the 1590s, links them together in a way no one could have expected.
It’s the kind of connection that leaves people scratching their heads — and chuckling at the irony.
“Papa Don’t Preach” — But Apparently, Her Distant Cousin Does
Naturally, once the news hit the internet, social media exploded.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions poured in. One user joked:
“Wait, Pope Leo XIV is actually a distant relative of Madonna?! That’s such a wild and iconic connection. Like, royalty meets pop royalty? I’m obsessed with this tea.”
Another quipped:
“Papa don’t preach, but her distant cousin definitely does.
