Pope's a symbol for multiple citizenship

On Thursday, white smoke finally puffed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney - a sign that after two false starts, the cardinals finally agreed on a new pope. Halfway through the first speech of Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, delivered in polished Italian, he paused and smiled, and asked if he may say a few words in Spanish. 'A greeting to all - and especially to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru,' he beamed. Even as he spoke, there was a full-on custody battle between the US and Peru to claim him as their own, making Leo XIV the Catholic world's very own Rishi Sunak: homegrown, imported, or wherever suits best. Barack Obama added to the fun by congratulating the 'fellow Chicagoan' - proving once again that if you've ever even changed planes at O'Hare, the Windy City will claim you.

Technically, the new Pope is a citizen of Peru, but was born in Chicago. He spent decades bouncing between the US and Peru before settling in Chiclayo. The Vatican's official news site diplomatically crowned him the 'second pope from the Americas'. After 20 years in Peru - picking up a bishop's mitre, a Peruvian passport and, hopefully, a taste for ceviche - he rose to lead the Order of St Augustine. If nothing else, Leo's journey is a ringing endorsement for multiple citizenships. The more hometowns you have, the more parties when you make it big.