“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin performed a complete 180 and became an instant fan of Pope LEO XIV this week after she discovered his Haitian roots.
“As it turns out, our new American pope has Haitian and black roots, so we actually have a black pope!” she excitedly announced on Monday. “Apparently — it’s like a chef’s kiss for me — both of his maternal grandparents are described as black, Haitian, or mulatto in several census documents.”
“And on their marriage license, the grandfather’s birthplace 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,” she added.
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(Video Credit: The View)
What she said marked a complete 180 from what she’d said on Friday, when she complained about the new pope’s views on homosexuality.
“I’m a little concerned about this choice for the LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “In 2012, he gave an address to bishops, and he lamented that popular culture has ‘fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.’ And that’s a quote.”
“And then he cited the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children,” she added.
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(Video Credit: The View)
Fellow co-host Ana Navarro then pushed back by noting that the Pope had made those remarks way back in 2012.
“In 2012, there were even a lot of American politicians who today are pro-gay marriage and pro-equal rights who were not,” she said.
“So maybe, you know, with the weight of the papacy and the idea that he just said when he went out on the balcony that the church loves everyone and was inclusive in his first message — so until we see otherwise, I think we need to pray and hope that he follows in Francis’ footsteps in being inclusive, forgiving, compassionate, welcoming, and speaking up for the marginalized,” she added.
Navarro referenced the Pope’s first speech.
“God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail,” he said during the speech last Thursday. “We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him like a bridge to reach God and his love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”
“To the church of Rome, a special greeting: We have to look together how to be a missionary church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love,” he added.
️ ‘God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.’
In his first words as Pope, Leo XIV – the first American pontiff – calls for unity, humility and peace.
‘We are all in the hands of God… Let us walk together, build bridges, and proclaim the Gospel without fear.’ pic.twitter.com/xq3PQLRVxF
— GB News (@GBNEWS) May 8, 2025
During Monday’s episode of “The View,” the other co-hosts also expressed being impressed with the new Pope.
“He said he stands in solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for reporting the truth and urged them to avoid ideological or partisan language,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg said. “I like that. I’m digging him.”
“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,” Navarro added.
“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,” she continued.
Unfortunately, Pope LEO XIV has made it clear that, much like his predecessor, he doesn’t support U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal migration.
However, conservative Catholics have fiercely defended the new Pope by pointing to all his other views, many of which perfectly align with the new U.S. administration.
While somewhat liberal on immigration, Pope Leo XIV is staunchly against female ordination, homosexuality, abortion, and a registered Republican who leans conservative.
He has voted in Republican primaries and US general elections while living abroad.
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— AF Post (@AFpost) May 8, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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