Question
Is Pope Leo XIV American?
Answer
Yes. Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and is the first US-born pope. He is also a naturalised citizen of Peru, where he spent much of his ministry, so he holds both American and Peruvian citizenship.
Last updated 2026-08-26
In more detail
His American background prompted extensive comment in US public life. In the Vatican he is generally described as a pope of the Americas as a whole, given his long Peruvian ministry and fluency in Spanish.
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Sources
- News sourceCNN — Leo XIV elected as first American pope · Reporting on the conclave and election · May 8, 2025
- ArchiveWikipedia — Pope Leo XIV — Wikipedia · Background reference, continuously updated
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