Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. takes a deep dive into the pope's past in New York Times Magazine piece.

This chart was prepared by Henry Louis Gates Jr., American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami. It reflects the best-known research as of the time of publication. Design by Nick Sheedy.

The phrase "Like a Prayer" has taken on a whole new significance for Madonna, as a recent discovery has revealed a surprising family connection to the Pope. In a collaborative article between The New York Times,