Key Takeaways
• Pope Leo XIV retains U.S. citizenship while serving as Vatican City’s sovereign head since May 2025.
• U.S. law requires formal renunciation; no automatic loss of citizenship for foreign heads of state.
• Dual citizenship raises travel, tax, and diplomatic protocol issues for the pope’s official duties.
Pope Leo XIV’s U.S. Citizenship: Legal Questions and Diplomatic Challenges
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, made history as the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church. His election as pope in May 2025 has brought a unique legal and diplomatic situation: he holds both U.S. citizenship and Peruvian citizenship while now serving as the sovereign head of Vatican City 🇻🇦. This has raised important questions about whether the pope can keep his U.S. citizenship while leading a foreign country, and what this means for the United States 🇺🇸, the Vatican, and Catholics worldwide.
The Core Issue: Can a Pope Keep U.S. Citizenship?
As of May 26, 2025, Pope Leo XIV remains a U.S. citizen. The U.S. State Department has not made any public statements about his citizenship status, and a spokesperson declined to comment on individual cases. This silence is not unusual, as the U.S. government rarely discusses personal citizenship matters. However, the situation is unprecedented because Pope Leo XIV is now:
- The spiritual leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide
- The sovereign head of Vatican City 🇻🇦, an independent country established in 1929
The main legal question is whether a U.S. citizen can serve as a foreign head of state and still keep their American citizenship. According to official U.S. policy, the government may “actively review” the citizenship status of Americans who become foreign heads of state, heads of government, or foreign ministers. This review is meant to address complicated questions about international law, especially regarding diplomatic immunity—meaning protection from being sued or prosecuted under U.S. laws.
Legal Analysis: What the Law Says
Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University and an expert on citizenship law, explains the conflict at the heart of this issue. Foreign leaders with U.S. citizenship enjoy broad immunity from U.S. laws, but the U.S. Constitution says that no American citizen should be above the law. This creates a problem: can someone be both a U.S. citizen and a foreign leader who is immune from U.S. laws?
However, Spiro points to a key 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The ruling says that Americans cannot lose their citizenship unless they intentionally renounce it. The State Department follows this rule: “The State Department never assumes that you intend to lose your citizenship unless you specifically say so through the renunciation process.”
In other words, simply becoming the pope does not mean Pope Leo XIV has given up his U.S. citizenship. He would have to go through a formal process to renounce it. Spiro says, “I think it’s highly unlikely that the U.S. moves to terminate the pope’s citizenship.” This means that, legally, Pope Leo XIV can keep his U.S. citizenship unless he chooses to give it up.
For more information on U.S. citizenship laws and renunciation, readers can visit the U.S. Department of State’s official page on loss of nationality.
Vatican Concerns: Diplomatic and Symbolic Issues
While U.S. law seems clear, the Vatican has its own concerns. According to reports from The Pillar, senior officials in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State are worried about the pope’s dual citizenship. They have discussed whether Pope Leo XIV should give up his U.S. passport. These concerns are not about legal requirements, but about diplomacy and symbolism.
If Pope Leo XIV were to renounce his U.S. citizenship, it could be seen as a major international event. Some might view it as the pope turning his back on his homeland or making a political statement. Others might see it as a way to avoid confusion or problems in diplomatic relations. The final decision rests with Pope Leo XIV himself, but Vatican officials know that whatever he chooses will have big consequences.
Practical Complications of Dual Citizenship
If Pope Leo XIV keeps his U.S. citizenship, several practical issues could arise:
1. Travel Requirements
– U.S. law says that American citizens must use their U.S. passports when entering or leaving the United States 🇺🇸, even if they have another nationality.
– This rule, put in place during President George W. Bush’s administration, means that Pope Leo XIV would technically need to use a passport under the name Robert Prevost if he visits the United States.
– This could create awkward situations during official visits, as the pope is also a foreign head of state.
2. Tax Obligations
– U.S. citizens must pay U.S. taxes no matter where they live.
– This rule has led some high-profile dual citizens, like former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (born in New York), to renounce their U.S. citizenship to avoid complicated tax filings and possible double taxation.
– It is unclear how this would apply to Pope Leo XIV, but the issue could become more complicated if he receives income or owns property in the United States.
3. Diplomatic Protocol
– The pope’s status as both a U.S. citizen and the head of a foreign country creates new questions for official visits and diplomatic relations.
– For example, would he be treated as an American citizen or as a foreign leader when visiting the United States?
– How would the U.S. Secret Service and the Vatican’s own security work together to protect him?
These practical issues show why the question of Pope Leo XIV’s U.S. citizenship is more than just a legal technicality—it has real-world effects on travel, taxes, and diplomacy.
Peruvian Citizenship: No Conflict
In addition to his U.S. citizenship, Pope Leo XIV also holds Peruvian citizenship. He became a Peruvian citizen in August 2015, just before being appointed bishop of Chiclayo in Peru 🇵🇪. According to Jorge Puch, deputy director of registry archives at Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status, Peruvian law does not have any problem with Pope Leo XIV keeping his Peruvian citizenship while serving as pope.
To become a Peruvian citizen, Pope Leo XIV had to live in Peru for at least two years and pass a civics test. Normally, adult Peruvians must vote in elections until age 69, but Pope Leo XIV will not have to vote in the 2026 presidential election because he will turn 70 in September 2025.
Vatican City: The World’s Most Exclusive Citizenship
Vatican City 🇻🇦 has some of the strictest citizenship and immigration rules in the world. Only 618 people hold Vatican citizenship, and just 64 have official Vatican passports. Vatican citizenship is usually given to:
- The pope
- Cardinals who live in Vatican City
- People whose jobs are essential to the Vatican’s work
Residency in Vatican City is also tightly controlled and can be taken away at any time. In May 2023, Pope Francis approved a new Fundamental Law for Vatican City that made these rules even stricter.
Historical Background: Why This Is Unique
The citizenship status of previous popes is not well known, as the Vatican does not usually share this information. Pope Leo XIV’s situation is unique because he is the first American pope and because modern laws about citizenship and diplomatic immunity are much stricter than in the past.
Pope Francis, who served from 2013 until his death in April 2025, was born in Argentina 🇦🇷 to an Italian family. His citizenship status did not raise the same questions, as he was not a dual citizen of the United States or any other country with strict citizenship laws.
Recent Diplomatic Events: U.S.-Vatican Relations
Just one day after his inauguration Mass, on May 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. Vice President Vance gave the pope a Chicago Bears jersey, a nod to his Chicago roots, and delivered a letter from U.S. President Trump. This meeting showed that the relationship between the United States 🇺🇸 and the Vatican remains strong, no matter what happens with the pope’s citizenship.
During the meeting, the pope and Vatican officials also spoke with Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. They discussed topics like church-state cooperation, religious freedom, and international conflicts where humanitarian law is important.
What Could Happen Next?
As Pope Leo XIV continues his work as pope, the question of his U.S. citizenship may need a formal answer, especially if he plans to travel to the United States. Legal experts believe it is unlikely that the U.S. government would try to take away his citizenship. However, the Vatican may decide that it is better for the pope to give up his U.S. passport to avoid confusion or diplomatic problems.
Right now, there is no deadline for Pope Leo XIV to make a decision. The situation is new for both the United States and the Vatican, and officials are still figuring out the best way forward.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Pope Leo XIV:
He must balance his personal ties to the United States 🇺🇸 with his new role as a global religious leader and head of a foreign country. Any decision about citizenship will have personal, legal, and diplomatic effects.
For the United States:
The government must decide how to handle a citizen who is also a foreign head of state. This could set a precedent for future cases involving dual citizens in high positions.
For the Vatican:
The Church must consider how the pope’s citizenship affects its independence and diplomatic relations. Vatican officials are aware that whatever choice is made will be closely watched around the world.
For Catholics Worldwide:
The situation highlights the global nature of the Catholic Church and the complex ties between faith, nationality, and international law.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Pope Leo XIV is still a U.S. citizen as of May 2025, and U.S. law does not require him to give up his citizenship unless he chooses to do so.
- The Vatican is considering whether it would be better for the pope to renounce his U.S. citizenship for diplomatic reasons.
- Keeping dual citizenship could create practical problems with travel, taxes, and diplomatic protocol.
- There is no immediate deadline for a decision, and the situation is being watched closely by legal experts, diplomats, and Catholics worldwide.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this is an unprecedented situation that could shape how countries and religious organizations handle citizenship and leadership in the future.
For those interested in the official process for renouncing U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Department of State provides detailed information and the required Form DS-4079 (Request for Determination of Possible Loss of United States Nationality).
The story of Pope Leo XIV’s citizenship is still unfolding. As both the United States 🇺🇸 and Vatican City 🇻🇦 work through these new challenges, the world will be watching to see how law, faith, and diplomacy come together in this historic moment.
Learn Today
U.S. Citizenship → Legal status granting an individual full rights and responsibilities as a member of the United States.
Dual Citizenship → Holding citizenship in two countries simultaneously, which can complicate legal and diplomatic matters.
Diplomatic Immunity → Legal protection allowing foreign officials to avoid prosecution under local laws during official duties.
Renunciation → Formal process by which a person voluntarily gives up their citizenship rights and status.
Vatican City → An independent city-state enclaved within Rome, serving as the spiritual and administrative center of the Catholic Church.
This Article in a Nutshell
Pope Leo XIV, first American-born pope, holds dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. Legal challenges arise over his U.S. citizenship while leading Vatican City, causing diplomatic and practical complications involving travel, taxes, and international relations. The Vatican debates whether he should renounce U.S. citizenship to avoid confusion in global diplomacy and law.
— By VisaVerge.com
