Sunny Hostin says ‘we actually have a black pope’ after finding Pope Leo’s Haitian ancestry

"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," Hostin said. "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.

"So apparently both of his maternal grandparents are described as black, Haitian or mulatto in several census documents and on their marriage license, his birth, the grandfather's birth place, is listed as Haiti. Her birthplace is listed as born in New Orleans. They were identified as people of color, but in 1920 when they migrated to Chicago, the census reflected their race as white."

This came after Hostin said she was "concerned" about the new pope due to statements he made in 2012 while serving as a bishop, in which he described how pop culture fostered "sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel" such as the "homosexual lifestyle," and "alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children," per Fox News.

On Monday, however, Hostin said she had been encouraged by comments made by Pope Leo in 2023. "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. I’m loving the pope."

Hostin’s co-hosts went on to praise the pope for a speech he gave earlier in the day supporting those journalists who have been imprisoned. Whoopi Goldberg said, "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 said, "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."

"And it's good to have a black pope," Hostin added.