In a twist that could make a Hollywood screenplay seem tame, global pop icon Madonna has responded with surprise and amusement after learning of a genealogical connection to Pope Leo XIV — along with a shared ancestral link to actress Angelina Jolie and pop star Justin Bieber.
The revelation comes from a recent ancestry mapping study conducted by the Vatican’s historical archives in partnership with a leading European genealogy institute. The study, which traced the papal lineage of Leo XIV, uncovered a series of distant familial connections that reach into the world of entertainment royalty.
“What Would My Grandma Say?”
Madonna, never one to shy away from blending the sacred and the provocative, responded with her signature flair. “I guess the prayer I said before every show finally paid off,” she joked in an Instagram story, adding, “Pope Leo XIV? I hope he liked Like a Prayer.” She then posted a black-and-white photo of herself wearing a crucifix, captioned: “Bloodlines and blessings. #HolyFamily?”
Sources close to the singer said she was “genuinely fascinated” by the connection and curious to learn more. “She’s always had a deep, if complicated, relationship with Catholicism,” a longtime friend said. “This just adds another layer to that journey.”
A Star-Studded Family Tree
The same research identified Angelina Jolie and Justin Bieber as distant relatives of the former pontiff as well. Jolie has not issued a formal statement, but insiders say she’s been aware of her European aristocratic lineage for years. “Angelina sees this more as a historical curiosity than anything spiritual,” a source said.
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Bieber, meanwhile, leaned into the news with a mix of humor and humility. “Guess I’ve got to start acting a little more saintly,” he quipped on X (formerly Twitter), posting a meme of himself photoshopped into a Renaissance painting with a halo. Fans were quick to dub him “Pope Biebs.”
Who Was Pope Leo XIV?
Pope Leo XIV, who held office in the late 18th century (note: some historians dispute this number, as Leo XIII is typically recognized), was known for his moderate reforms and efforts to reconcile with Enlightenment-era thinkers. While his papacy isn’t among the most famous, his familial line appears to have branched far and wide over the centuries, finding its way into some of the most recognizable faces of modern pop culture.
A Divine Twist?
Genealogists caution that such connections, though scientifically plausible, are often distant and symbolic. “We’re talking about 15th or 16th cousins in most cases,” explained Dr. Elodie Marchand of the European Genealogical Society. “But it’s still a fun way to see how deeply interconnected human history really is.”
For Madonna, Jolie, and Bieber, it may not change much — but it certainly adds a divine touch to their already illustrious narratives.
Whether coincidence or cosmic joke, fans are here for it. As one Instagram commenter put it: “When the pop stars are also papal stars — truly, this is the era of Holy Pop Culture.”
