Does Pope Leo lose his citizenship?

HDGristle's Avatar
https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-...b948ceb97fdbc9

By becoming the leader of a foreign nation, what's the impact?

Interesting question and notion.

Where do you fall on this?
The_Waco_Kid's Avatar
https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-...b948ceb97fdbc9

By becoming the leader of a foreign nation, what's the impact?

Interesting question and notion.

Where do you fall on this? Originally Posted by HDGristle



let's count how many Popes were required to give up their citizenship to become Pope.



None


your premise is a nothing burger
... I not gonna piss on a bloke for startin' a thread.

... Seeing-as the new Pope fellow aint gonna be leading any
"foreign nation" other than Vatican City (who don't even got
a football team) - I'd say that the world don't have to worry
about him. ... No doubt he'll have dual citizenships.

But will conservative Catholics have to worry? ... Maybe.

#### Salty
HDGristle's Avatar
let's count how many Popes were required to give up their citizenship to become Pope.



None


your premise is a nothing burger Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid
First American pope so first time OUR laws are tested. Interesting notion.

It's a worthwhile convo to see who feels what way
HDGristle's Avatar
No doubt he'll have dual citizenships. Originally Posted by Salty Again
Triple Citizen, actually.

U.S. and then Peru and then Vatican citizen via leading the Holy See
The_Waco_Kid's Avatar
First American pope so first time OUR laws are tested. Interesting notion.

It's a worthwhile convo to see who feels what way Originally Posted by HDGristle

However, the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1980 decision ruled that Americans can’t be stripped of their citizenship unless they intentionally renounce it.

“The State Department never assumes that you intend to lose your citizenship unless you specifically say so through the renunciation process,” Spiro said.

He said it would be hard to argue that Leo, by becoming pope, demonstrated an intent to give up being a U.S. citizen.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that the U.S. moves to terminate the pope’s citizenship,” Spiro said.


the US especially under Trump is not going to make any attempt to stripe citizenship from the Pope.

so unless Leo decides to renounce his US citizenship it won't happen.
Devo's Avatar
  • Devo
  • 05-27-2025, 08:16 PM
However, the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1980 decision ruled that Americans can’t be stripped of their citizenship unless they intentionally renounce it.

“The State Department never assumes that you intend to lose your citizenship unless you specifically say so through the renunciation process,” Spiro said.

He said it would be hard to argue that Leo, by becoming pope, demonstrated an intent to give up being a U.S. citizen.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that the U.S. moves to terminate the pope’s citizenship,” Spiro said.


the US especially under Trump is not going to make any attempt to stripe citizenship from the Pope.

so unless Leo decides to renounce his US citizenship it won't happen. Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid

That sounds fair to me.