Pope Leo XIV is a dual national: he is a citizen of both the United States and Peru.

Quick Scoop: What nationality is Pope Leo?

Short answer

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) is:

  • A U.S. citizen, born in Chicago, Illinois.
  • A naturalized Peruvian citizen, after many years of ministry and leadership in Peru.

So when people ask “what nationality is Pope Leo?” the most accurate reply is that he holds both American (United States) and Peruvian nationality.

A bit of context

  • He was born in Chicago in 1955, which makes him the first pope born in the United States and commonly called the first “American pope.”
  • He later obtained Peruvian citizenship after about two decades serving there as a missionary, bishop, and church leader, so he is officially a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru.

In Catholic news and forum discussions, you’ll often see both sides highlighted: some emphasize that he’s the first U.S.-born pope, while others stress that he is also the first Peruvian pope thanks to his naturalized citizenship and long service in the country.

Nationality vs. heritage

Alongside his legal nationality, commentators also talk about his mixed family background:

  • Family roots include French, Italian, Spanish, Cuban, French Canadian, and African American (Creole) ancestry.
  • Recent reporting has highlighted his Louisiana Creole lineage, which has resonated with many Catholics of color.

But in legal terms, his nationality is:
United States and Peru (dual citizenship).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.