Can Pope Leo Keep U.S. Citizenship?

Pope Leo is a lifelong American citizen. But as Pope, he is also the leader of Vatican City, an internationally recognized sovereign nation. Can an American citizen lead a foreign nation? And can a Pope retain foreign citizenship?

The answers are yes and yes — but it rarely happens.

United States law allows dual citizenship. According to the State Department, a dual citizen who became a foreign head of state would not necessarily lose American citizenship if he or she wanted to keep it.