Pope Leo received a forgotten payment of $8.65 [1] from an old PayPal account during a meeting in Vatican City.
The event highlights the reach of state unclaimed-property laws, which require government officials to track down and return forgotten funds to their original owners regardless of their status or location.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs presented the unclaimed-property notice to the Pope on June 3, 2024 [2]. The encounter took place in St. Peter’s Square immediately following the Pope’s weekly general audience [2].
According to the Treasurer's office, the funds originated from a PayPal account that had remained inactive for a significant period. Under Illinois law, the state acts as a custodian for such funds until the rightful owner is identified and notified [1].
The small sum was added to the Vatican coffers following the presentation. The process of returning the money involved the Illinois Treasurer's office coordinating the notice to ensure the funds were properly remitted to the head of the Catholic Church [2].
This interaction serves as a public example of the administrative process used by the state of Illinois to clear dormant accounts from its books. While the amount is nominal, the formal delivery of the notice in St. Peter's Square underscored the legal obligation of the state to return all unclaimed assets, no matter how small the balance [1].
“Pope Leo received a forgotten payment of $8.65 from an old PayPal account”
This incident demonstrates the rigid application of U.S. state financial regulations regarding unclaimed property. By publicly returning a negligible sum to a global figure, the Illinois Treasurer's office emphasizes that the legal mandate to remit dormant funds applies universally, regardless of the amount or the profile of the recipient.
