Robert Francis Prevost, who on Thursday became the first American elected Pope, has Creole of color roots in New Orleans, Louisiana, his brother confirmed to the New York Times.

Leo XIV’s predecessor Pope Francis, birth name Jorge Maria Bergoglio, appointed 80% of the cardinals who voted to elect one of them as the next pope. Most of Bergoglio’s appointees are younger and more racially and geographically diverse than the men they replaced, and many appear to be far more progressive than he was.