The election of Pope Leo XIV, who is the first U.S. pope and has Creole roots, is raising more awareness about the complexity of the Creole identity.

Shannen Dee Williams grew up Black and Catholic.

In this Saturday, June 6, 2020 photo provided by The Record, Black Catholics walk from the federal courthouse building in downtown Louisville, Ky., to 12th and Broadway, in the "Black Catholics Unite: Stand For Justice March" which was organized by young adults. Black Catholics across the U.S. hear their churchs leaders once again calling for racial justice, but at this volatile moment they want action as well as words. He also said all Catholic schools should teach the history of Black Catholics in America. Black Catholics somewhat marginal place in the U.S. church is illustrated by statistics compiled by the national bishops conference. But there are just 250 Black priests, or less than 1% of the total of 36,500, along with eight active Black bishops out of more than 250, or about 3.2%.