By The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team
When the world witnessed the announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, few could have imagined that this historic moment would carry the unmistakable bloodline of Haiti. Yet, as eloquently articulated by journalist Vania André in her recent piece for The Haitian Times, the pope’s Haitian lineage is not just a personal footnote — it is a monumental symbol.
At The Haitian Pulse, we believe this isn’t just a moment to celebrate. It is a call to remember. A call to organize. A call to rise.
The revelation of Pope Leo XIV’s Haitian ancestry affirms something our community has known for centuries: we have always been here. Our contributions — to religion, politics, culture, art, and resistance — have been profound and often underrecognized. This moment at the Vatican simply makes our invisible thread visible to the world.
But the power of this symbolism does not rest in nostalgia. It rests in strategy.
Because what does it mean that someone of Haitian descent now leads the most influential religious institution on the planet? It means that Haiti is not a footnote of the past — we are authors of the present. And it is time we begin to write our future with intention.
Too often, Haitians in the diaspora and on the island are spoken about — not spoken to. Decisions are made for us without us. From U.S. foreign policy to Dominican border violence, from deportation protocols to phantom governments, we are seen as problems to be solved rather than people to be empowered.
That is why The Haitian Pulse exists — to change that narrative.
We are building a strategic, organized voting and advocacy bloc across the diaspora, united not by party, but by purpose. We do not need to ask for inclusion in decisions that impact us — we must assert it. This moment of global Haitian visibility only reinforces what is possible when we recognize the weight of our legacy.
As we honor the work of journalists like Vania André who shine light on our history, we also extend an invitation to every Haitian who reads this:
Join The Haitian Pulse. Be counted. Be present. Be ready.
Because the Pope’s Haitian bloodline might be a surprise to the world — but to us, it is a reminder that greatness runs in our veins.
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