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Harry Styles Makes Divine Appearance at Pope Leo XIV’s Conclave Election in Vatican City
The Father, the Son and the Hollywood cousins.
It turns out, the newly appointed Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) has an astonishingly celebrity-ridden family tree.
According to Finding Your Roots host Henry Louis Gates Jr., through a maternal ancestor born in the 1590s, the Chicago-born Pope Leo is ninth cousins—various times removed—with stars such as Justin Bieber, Madonna and Angelina Jolie.
Other significant ninth cousins include politicians Hillary Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as his father and fellow Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and famed writer Jack Kerouac.
Henry’s investigation into the new pope’s family tree also revealed an especially American background, reflective of the centuries of immigration the country has experienced. Of the ancestors found in Pope Leo’s family tree, he had family born in France, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Canda, Haiti and the French overseas department of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
Pope Leo’s ascension marks the first time a North American was elected to head the Catholic Church, and his first remarks as Pope spoke to the idea of bridging global boundaries.
"We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone,” Pope Leo said on May 8 in front of the thousands of spectators in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. “Just like in this square, to welcome everyone, in charity, dialogue and love.”
Referencing the final Easter blessing the late Pope Francis gave before his death on April 21, the new pontiff added, “Allow me to continue that same blessing: God loves everyone; evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. So, without fear, united hand and hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward."
TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images
Even the name he chose—that of Pope Leo—speaks to the kind of religious leader the American pope hopes to be.
The former Pope Leo XIII, who led the church from 1878 until 1903, was known as the "Social Pope" and the "Pope of the Workers," and was considered an intellectual and a modern thinker.
Peruvian Deacon Cledier Pérez Mejía, who worked with the future Pope Leo during his time in the country, told NBC News of the moniker choice, “I believe the name he chose is also meaningful: Leo XIII was the pope who mediated between modernity and the ancient régime. By choosing this name, he has sent a clear signal about what his role will be in such difficult times as these.”
The new pope’s brother likewise spoke to the road Pope Leo will likely choose to travel.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
“The best way I could describe him right now is that he will be following in Francis’ footsteps,” John Prevost told The New York Times May 8. “They were very good friends. They knew each other before he was pope, before my brother even was bishop.”
John continued, “I don’t think we’ll see extremes either way. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.”
But Pope Leo isn’t the only figure with surprising Hollywood connections. Keep reading for more stars you didn’t realize were related.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images/Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Lena Dunham & Larry David
On an April 2 episode of Finding Your Roots, host Henry Louis Gates Jr., revealed that Lena Dunham had a distant ancestor in common with Larry David on her mother's side.
Astrid Stawiarz/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images/Instagram/Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Stassi Schroeder & Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Genealogist Dr. Adina Newman, known on Instagram as My Family Genie, revealed Blanchard and the Vanderpump Rules alum are allegedly related on their paternal grandmother's side dating back all the way to the 1600s.
Schroeder, a self-professed true crime fan, commented on Newman's post, "Omg I'm unwell."
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter
Dakota Johnson and Antonio Banderas
The Mask of Zorro star was married to the Fifty Shades of Grey actress' mother Melanie Griffith for 20 years before they ultimately split in 2015, but that doesn't mean the stepfather and daughter's bond has been severed.
Johnson got emotional when she presented an award to Banderas at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.
"I come from a family of many a marriage and I got very lucky," Johnson, whose dad is actor Don Johnson, said. "I got a bonus dad who I realized that, over time, is actually one of the most influential people in my whole life," she said. "When I was six years old, my mother married a man who brought an unbelievably bright light and a whole new world of creativity and culture—and one remarkably magical little sister into our family."
Robyn Lively & Blake Lively
The Teen Witch star and the Gossip Girl alum are half-sisters who share the same mom, talent manager Elaine Lively.
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Elle King & Rob Schneider
The "Ex's & Oh's" singer is the SNL vet's daughter, born from his relationship with former model London King.
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Ludacris & Monica
The Fast & Furious star is cousins with the R&B singer thanks to her stepfather, Reverend Edward Best, who happens to be the rapper's uncle.
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Conan O'Brien & Denis Leary
The late-night host and the Rescue Me creator are third cousins.
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Steven Spielberg & Jessica Capshaw
The onetime Grey's Anatomy doc has called the legendary director stepdad ever since he married her mom Kate Capshaw in 1991.
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Yara Shahidi & Nas
The Grown-ish star calls the rapper her second cousin. She was even the flower girl in his 2005 wedding with now ex-wife Kelis!
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Lea Thompson & Zoey Deutch
The actress is the daughter of the Back to the Future icon.
J. Merritt/FilmMagic
Kiefer Sutherland & Sarah Sutherland
Not only did the Veep vet make a name for herself playing a famous daughter on the HBO comedy, but she's also a famous daughter in real life. The erstwhile Jack Bauer star is her father.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images
Phil Collins & Lily Collins
Some Emily in Paris viewers were très shocked to discover Lily is the daughter of the English Grammy winner.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Amy Schumer & Chuck Schumer
The comedian and the New York Senator are actually related, as he's the first cousin of her father.
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Kate Middleton, Dakota Fanning & Elle Fanning
According to a 2014 People interview, a family historian from Ancestry.com claimed that the Fannings and the Princess of Wales are all descendants of King Edward III, who ruled England from 1327 to 1377, making them very distant relatives—21st cousins, to be exact.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Jonah Hill & Beanie Feldstein
The actors are actually brother and sister!
©Academy Museum Foundation; Photo by Hunter Abrams
Niecy Nash, Danielle Brooks & Sterling K. Brown
Talent runs in this family, as the Reno 911! alum, Orange Is the New Black actress and This Is Us star are all cousins.
"We are blood related!" Nash wrote on Instagram January 2024, sharing a photo of the trio at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Third Annual Fundraising Gala. "REAL cousins!"
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Jason Sudeikis & George Wendt
The SNL alum calls the Cheers icon Uncle George whenever he sees him. At least, we assume he does.
John Shearer/Getty Images for AMC/Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
Stephen Dillane & Frank Dillane
Yep, Game of Thrones' Stannis Baratheon is the real-life dad of Fear the Walking Dead's Nick Clark.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Danny Martindale/WireImage
Lily Allen & Sam Smith
The brunette beauty and the "Stay With Me" singer are third cousins. During a radio interview, Smith admitted that the pair have never met because their family is "huge."
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Netflix/AP Images
Liev Schreiber & Pablo Schreiber
The Salt actor and the memorable Law & Order: SVU guest star are half-brothers.
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Melissa McCarthy & Jenny McCarthy
You may not have guessed but the Bridesmaids comedian and the former View co-host are cousins.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Julia Roberts & Emma Roberts
The We're the Millers actress has the perfect mentor in the Pretty Woman star, who happens to be her auntie.
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Lacey Schwimmer & David Schwimmer
Who knew the stunning Dancing With the Stars pro is second cousins with the Friends alum?
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Alexander Skarsgård & Stellan Skarsgård
The True Blood vampire caught the acting bug from his dear old dad who stars in both The Avengers and Thor franchises.
J. Vespa/WireImage; Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic
Sofia Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Nicolas Cage & Francis Ford Coppola
The Ghost Rider actor comes from an extremely talented family. One of his cousins directed The Bling Ring, the other starred in Saving Mr. Banks and his uncle directed The Godfather.
Eamonn McCormack/WireImage
Lily Allen & Alfie Allen
The outspoken British singer is the older sister of the Game of Thrones star. She even wrote a song about him titled "Alfie."
Scott Wintrow/Getty Images
Brooke Shields & Glenn Close
The Damages star and the Lipstick Jungle actress are second cousins.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Shirley MacLaine & Warren Beatty
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty actress originally inspired her baby brother to get into show business.
Lester Cohen/WireImage.com
Rashida Jones & Quincy Jones
The Parks and Recreation actress is the daughter of the legendary music producer.
Splash News; Getty Images
Tom Cruise & William Mapother
The Lost actor has a very famous cousin in the Mission: Impossible star.
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