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[–] 26 points 4 hours ago (4 children)

I don't really have an opinion on this, but it feels really weird. Though elected to the rôle, Pope Leo is one of the world's last absolute monarchs, answerable to no one. Partly because of this the Vatican isn't even in the U.N.

Like I said, no real opinion on it, and I suppose that legally there's no reason to keep an absolute monarch from voting in U.S. elections—it's not like dual citizenship isn't absolutely normal—but it does feel strange somehow to have a monarch vote in a republic's elections.

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  • [+] -19 points 2 hours ago* (3 children)

    it's not like dual citizenship isn't absolutely normal

    The United States doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. When you’re naturalized, you must give up your citizenship to any other country.

    Pope Leo was a US citizen when he was born, but became the head of the Vatican, and therefore gained citizenship there, after. I don’t know whether the Vatican is as strict about giving up other citizenships, but if they are, he’s technically not a US citizen anymore in the eyes of the Vatican, and US government could potentially use this as an excuse to not count his vote.

    I’m assuming a lot and making lots of guesses, and I’m probably wrong, but it’s a potential angle, given everything this administration has done.

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