Pope Leo XIV, a lifelong American citizen, now leads Vatican City as its sovereign head. This unique dual citizenship status opens the door for intriguing questions about international law and the responsibilities associated with being a foreign leader while holding American nationality.
The U.S. law provides for dual citizenship, meaning that a citizen who becomes a foreign head of state can potentially retain their American citizenship—a situation the State Department has confirmed though it raises complicated legal questions such as those pertaining to immunity from U.S. jurisdiction.
Moreover, Catholic Church leaders traditionally have been allowed to retain their original citizenship while serving as Pope. For instance, the former Pope Francis maintained his Argentine nationality and even renewed his Argentine passport in 2017.
In special circumstances, U.S. citizens have held positions as leaders of other nations, highlighted by Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who held the presidency of Somalia after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, only to renounce that citizenship amidst accusations of divided loyalties.
Vatican City, governed by the Holy See, is acknowledged as a sovereign state by the United Nations, although it prefers observer status to uphold its impartiality in global political matters. As Pope, Leo XIV is also a citizen of Peru, which recognizes dual citizenship. However, the implications of a Peruvian citizen becoming a foreign leader remain unclear.
The State Department has yet to comment on Pope Leo’s dual citizenship status, and the Vatican has not disclosed any official stance on his situation. As Pope Leo navigates his responsibilities, the world watches closely for how this rare occurrence unfolds within the legal frameworks of citizenship and international relations.
