Can Pope Leo Keep His U.S. Citizenship as a Foreign Head of State? Explore the Surprising Legalities!

Pope Leo XIV has made history as the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, he has lived a remarkable life, holding citizenship in both the U.S. and Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop.

As pope, Leo leads the Holy See and Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent state. This unique situation raises interesting questions about his citizenship.

Is the Vatican Really a Country?

Yes, Vatican City is recognized as a sovereign nation. It covers just 0.17 square miles and is home to a few hundred people. Established in 1929 through a treaty with Italy, it operates independently but is deeply tied to the Catholic Church.

Can Leo Keep His U.S. Citizenship?

In the U.S., holding a foreign government position doesn’t automatically mean losing American citizenship. According to the State Department, they may review cases where an American serves as a foreign head of state. This can bring up tricky legal questions about immunity from U.S. laws.

Legal expert Peter Spiro notes that it’s unusual for a U.S. citizen to be stripped of citizenship unless they explicitly renounce it. The Supreme Court ruled in 1980 that intent must be clear for citizenship to be lost. Spiro believes it’s unlikely the U.S. would attempt to revoke the pope’s citizenship.

What About Peruvian Citizenship?

Pope Leo became a citizen of Peru in 2015, fulfilling requirements that included living there for two years and passing a civics test. The Peruvian government has no issues with him retaining this citizenship.

Citizenship of Previous Popes

It’s unclear what happened to the citizenship of past popes. Pope Francis renewed his Argentine passport after becoming pope, while previous leaders like Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II never publicly renounced their citizenships. Historian Margaret Susan Thompson speculates that Leo’s decision to speak in Italian and Spanish during his first speech was a deliberate choice to emphasize his role as a global leader, not just an American.

U.S. Leaders in Foreign Governments

Historically, some Americans have served in foreign leadership roles. Boris Johnson, born in New York, renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016 while serving as the U.K.’s foreign secretary. Similarly, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed became president of Somalia after giving up his American citizenship, while Valdas Adamkus forfeited his U.S. citizenship when returning to Lithuania to serve as president.

These cases highlight the complexity of citizenship, especially for leaders in global politics. As Pope Leo navigates his dual roles, he stands at a unique intersection of faith, nationality, and leadership.

For more on the Vatican’s history and governance, check out the U.S. State Department’s citizenship guidelines.

Source link

Vatican City, Peru, Pope Leo XIV, Boris Johnson, Margaret Susan Thompson, Pope Francis, Catholic Church, United States government, U.S. Department of State, General news, IL State Wire, Latin America, United States, South America, Religion, Peter Spiro, Pope Benedict XVI, U.S. news, Jorge Puch, World news, Valdas Adamkus, Supreme Court of the United States, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, International agreements, World News, U.S. News