Genealogical Study Confirms Pope Leo XIV’s Ancestral Roots in Canary Islands

Pope Leo XIV’s recent visit to Gran Canaria and Tenerife has left behind more than just memories; it has uncovered a significant piece of his family history. As reported by Diario de Avisos on January 25, a detailed genealogical study has confirmed that the Pope has direct ancestors from the Canary Islands.

The research, led by María Carrillo de Albornoz Santana of the Canary Islands Society for Genealogical and Heraldic Studies (Segeheca), traces the history of the González Vázquez and Hernández Pérez families, who settled in Santa Cruz de La Palma during the 16th and 17th centuries. Carrillo personally presented her findings to the Pope during his visit. The study documents the 1614 marriage of Gaspar González and María Pérez, whose descendants later moved to Cuba and eventually became part of the Pope’s family tree.

The gift, supported by the Government of the Canary Islands, includes a volume of transcribed church records and a chart illustrating thirteen generations of the family. This discovery was the result of extensive research that began shortly after Leo XIV was elected. Carrillo, an expert in British and American genealogy, began by investigating the links between Canarian settlers in Louisiana and the Pope’s ancestry. By cross-referencing North American university archives with parish records in La Palma, she was able to confirm that Juan González Vázquez was the key figure who moved the family to the Caribbean.

During the meeting, which was attended by President Fernando Clavijo and Bishop Eloy Santiago, the Pope was able to see how his Galician and Canarian roots connect. Carrillo describes this as the culmination of a major project, but notes that the work is far from over. She is now working to identify the Pope’s living relatives currently residing in the Canary Islands, further strengthening a connection that has now become a permanent part of the Vatican’s historical records.