Pope Leo XIV Told NBC That Immigrants Are One of America’s “Greatest Wealths,” Then Said His Own Bloodline Holds Both Slaves and Slave Owners

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Pope Leo leads the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta in Castel Gandolfo
REUTERS/Matteo Minnella

In a wide-ranging interview with NBC, Pope Leo XIV spoke about immigration and his own family history, tying the two together in remarks about the country he came from.

Pope Leo leads the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta in Castel Gandolfo
Pope Leo greets faithful after the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, July 19, 2026. REUTERS/Matteo Minnella

The pope said his own family holds both slaves and slave owners, describing a Creole line running through New Orleans.

He told NBC that welcoming people from everywhere is what he loves most about the United States.

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