OPELOUSAS, la. (KLFY) — The family of Pope Leo XIV, who has roots in Saint Landry Parish, will be celebrated at the Election and Archive Center in Opelousas on Oct. 25.

Larry Callier, Jr., St. Landry Parish Archivist said the event will highlight the Lemelle family’s deep historical ties to the area, with lineage tracing back to 1792. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the family’s history and contributions to the parish.

“We can actually trace the Pope’s lineage all the way back to this area, going all the way back to 1792,” Callier said.

Charles Jagneaux, St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court, noted, “His folks were the Lemelles and the Baquies and they owned where the Steamboat Warehouse is in Washington.”

Multiple members of the Lemelle family are expected to attend the celebration, including Zydeco artist Morgan Lemelle, who will perform his music.

The Election and Archives Center, which opened earlier this year, provides a valuable resource for tracing family histories in St. Landry Parish. Jagneaux emphasized the importance of the center, and stated, “St. Landry has a treasure trove of records and easily researchable.”

The Lemelle family celebration offers a unique opportunity for individuals to connect with their heritage and explore the rich historical records available at the Election and Archive Center.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

Latest news