American Pope Tops Polls as Congress Rushes to Protect His Citizenship

Paul Riverbank, 8/6/2025Congress rushes to protect American Pope's citizenship amid unprecedented Vatican sovereignty questions.

I've spent decades analyzing the overlap of religion and politics, but this situation presents unique complexities. The new pontiff's commanding 57% approval rating in recent Gallup polls tells only part of the story. Behind these numbers lies an intriguing legal puzzle that's now forcing Congress to grapple with questions no one ever thought to ask.

Rep. Jeff Hurd's Holy Sovereignty Protection Act might seem like political theater at first glance. Yet having covered similar citizenship controversies, I can tell you the concerns aren't entirely unfounded. The pope's position as Vatican City's sovereign ruler – complete with legislative and executive powers over those 121 acres – creates genuine questions about citizenship compatibility.

The State Department's traditionally strict interpretation of foreign sovereignty could theoretically trigger a citizenship review. But here's where it gets interesting: Immigration attorney Paul Hunker points out that without explicit renunciation, American citizenship remains intact. Secretary Rubio's careful distinction between spiritual and political office adds another layer to this unprecedented situation.

During my years covering Vatican politics, I've noticed how the Holy See transcends normal diplomatic categories. Vatican analyst Andrea Gagliarducci captures this perfectly: "You cannot consider the pope a Peruvian, a U.S. citizen, or whatever. He is the Holy See." Yet in practice, Pope Leo XIV must navigate both his universal spiritual role and his American identity.

The polling numbers remind me of similar approval ratings enjoyed by Pope Francis and Benedict in their early days. But this pope's American citizenship adds a unique twist – one that's pushing Congress to consider legislation no one ever imagined needing.

What fascinates me most is how this situation challenges our traditional understanding of sovereignty and citizenship. As someone who's watched political institutions adapt to unprecedented circumstances, I'll be following closely as Congress works to reconcile American citizenship with papal authority – a challenge that would have seemed impossible just months ago.

The Vatican's white smoke has cleared to reveal something unprecedented in Catholic history: an American pope. But Chicago native Robert Prevost's elevation to Pope Leo XIV has created more than just religious headlines – it's sparked a fascinating intersection of church authority and American citizenship that few could have anticipated.I've spent decades analyzing the overlap of religion and politics, but this situation presents unique complexities. The new pontiff's commanding 57% approval rating in recent Gallup polls tells only part of the story. Behind these numbers lies an intriguing legal puzzle that's now forcing Congress to grapple with questions no one ever thought to ask.Rep. Jeff Hurd's Holy Sovereignty Protection Act might seem like political theater at first glance. Yet having covered similar citizenship controversies, I can tell you the concerns aren't entirely unfounded. The pope's position as Vatican City's sovereign ruler – complete with legislative and executive powers over those 121 acres – creates genuine questions about citizenship compatibility.The State Department's traditionally strict interpretation of foreign sovereignty could theoretically trigger a citizenship review. But here's where it gets interesting: Immigration attorney Paul Hunker points out that without explicit renunciation, American citizenship remains intact. Secretary Rubio's careful distinction between spiritual and political office adds another layer to this unprecedented situation.During my years covering Vatican politics, I've noticed how the Holy See transcends normal diplomatic categories. Vatican analyst Andrea Gagliarducci captures this perfectly: "You cannot consider the pope a Peruvian, a U.S. citizen, or whatever. He is the Holy See." Yet in practice, Pope Leo XIV must navigate both his universal spiritual role and his American identity.The polling numbers remind me of similar approval ratings enjoyed by Pope Francis and Benedict in their early days. But this pope's American citizenship adds a unique twist – one that's pushing Congress to consider legislation no one ever imagined needing.What fascinates me most is how this situation challenges our traditional understanding of sovereignty and citizenship. As someone who's watched political institutions adapt to unprecedented circumstances, I'll be following closely as Congress works to reconcile American citizenship with papal authority – a challenge that would have seemed impossible just months ago.