Pope Leo’s grandfather was immigrant from Sicily, genealogists reveal

The family history service Ancestry recently announced that a team helmed by senior genealogist Kyle Betit had determined Leo’s paternal grandfather, John R Prevost, immigrated to the US from north-eastern Sicily. That revelation came as Leo used his first address to world diplomats on Friday to say that migrants’ dignity must be respected. “My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate,” Leo told ambassadors at the Vatican. View image in fullscreen Pope Leo XIV arrives to hold an audience with representatives of the media in Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Monday. Louis and Mildred Prevost raised three sons within the Catholic faith in Chicago, the youngest of whom was Robert.