Pope Leo XIV: “I consider myself a Pope who happens to be American”

Pope Leo XIV reflected on his American roots, his family’s immigrant background and his role as leader of the Catholic Church in an interview with the Spanish-language US television network Telemundo.

“I consider myself a Pope who happens to be American,” the Pontiff said.

Asked what he appreciates most about his home country, Pope Leo pointed to the values of freedom and opportunity, as well as the United States’ long history of receiving immigrants from around the world.

“There are many things I like. The sense of freedom, the sense of the different opportunities that are available. The fact that, for generations, the United States welcomed people who came from all over the world, inviting them to become part of this country,” he said.

Pope Leo also recalled that he comes from an immigrant family and spoke about the complex history of his maternal ancestry, noting that among his ancestors were both enslaved people and slaveholders.

According to the Pontiff, this multifaceted family history allows him to identify with the American tradition of welcoming and integrating people from different backgrounds. The ancestors of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, had roots in…