Can Pope Leo XIV Keep U.S. Citizenship?

nytimes.comPublished: 5/9/2025

Summary

Pope Leo, an American citizen, leads Vatican City as its leader despite being part of a foreign sovereign state. U.S. law permits dual citizenship, allowing the Pope to maintain American status while governing Vatican City. The Holy See also permits retaining other nationalities like Argentina, though the State Department notes that such cases are rare and involve complex international legal considerations.