Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, recently expressed her newfound admiration for Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, after discovering his "black roots." Hostin remarked,.
"There's one other thing that's also very interesting to me, because President Trump, as you remember, called Haiti a certain type of country," adding, "As it turns out, our new American Pope has Haitian and black roots, so we actually have a black pope, it's like, chef's kiss for me."
She elaborated that census documents and marriage licenses indicate both of his maternal grandparents were identified as black, Haitian, or mulatto, with his grandfather's birthplace listed as Haiti and his grandmother's as New Orleans. Despite being identified as people of color, by 1920, their race was recorded as white in Chicago's census.
According to The Post Millennial, Hostin initially harbored reservations about Pope Leo due to comments he made in 2012 while serving as a bishop. At that time, he criticized pop culture for promoting "sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," specifically referencing the "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children," as reported by Fox News. However, Hostin's perspective shifted following Pope Leo's recent statements in 2023, where he echoed Pope Francis's inclusive vision for the church. "He said, you know, he believes what Pope Francis believed is that a church is a church for everyone. The church is very inclusive. So, I'm liking this guy a lot. Im loving the pope," Hostin stated.
The View's co-hosts joined in commending the pope for his recent address advocating for journalists who face imprisonment. Whoopi Goldberg highlighted his call for solidarity with these journalists and his encouragement to avoid ideological or partisan language, saying, "He said he stands in solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for reporting the truth and urged them to avoid ideological or partisan language. I like that. I'm digging him." Ana Navarro also praised Pope Leo's early actions, noting, "I love that one of his first acts was to meet with journalists and defend the right of journalists to be journalists and uncover the truth. And I think it's so timely that we have an American pope because we are going through things in this country, and it is good to show the world that not all American leaders are the same. It's good to have an American that can denounce the things happening against immigrants here."
Hostin concluded her remarks by reiterating the significance of Pope Leo's heritage, stating, "And it's good to have a black pope." This acknowledgment of his diverse background resonates with those who value representation and inclusivity within the church's leadership.
Pope Leo's stance on inclusivity and his support for journalistic freedom signal a potential shift in the church's approach to contemporary issues, aligning with a broader, more inclusive vision that seeks to embrace all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs.
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