Henry Louis Gates Jr. presented Pope Leo XIV with a family tree revealing his ancestry dating back 500 years, to Leo X's time as pope. Gates, a prominent scholar and director of the Hutchins Center, undertook this genealogical research for a New York Times Sunday Magazine article. During a private audience in Rome, Gates and his wife met the pontiff, who expressed delight at the research. Gates noted the pope’s wit and openness during their encounter, marking it as a significant honor in his career.
"Having a private audience with the pope was one of the greatest honors of my life." - Henry Louis Gates Jr.
"Your Holiness, your ancestry goes back to your 12th-great-grandparents, who were born 500 years ago - when Leo X was pope." - Henry Louis Gates Jr.
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