Pope Leo XIV received his electronic National Identity Document (DNI 3.0) in Peru, which retains his address in the northern city of Chiclayo, a place that is part of his personal history.
The ID card was presented on Thursday in Lima by the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec).
It is worth recalling that the Holy Father had expressed his wish to personally collect his Peruvian ID card in our country.
The application was processed on May 30, 2025, at the Vatican, as part of the "Identificación Sin Fronteras" (Identification Without Borders) campaign, an initiative aimed at identifying Peruvians residing abroad.
During the application process, the pope-elect at the time expressed his wish to retain his Chiclayo address on the document, as well as his intention to return to Peru to collect it personally.
Last Thursday, that wish became a reality with the presentation of his ID card on Peruvian soil.
The gesture recalls the words the pontiff shared with U.S. journalist Elise Ann Allen, author of his biography, to whom he said: "Peru is part of who I am."
This phrase takes on special significance as he retains his address in Chiclayo and receives his ID card in the South American country.
Timeline
Robert F. Prevost's identification history in Peru began on August 24, 2015, when he obtained Peruvian citizenship and applied for his first blue ID card.
In 2016, he visited a Reniec registry office in Chiclayo to apply for his electronic ID card.
Years later, following his appointment as a cardinal, one of the most important moments of his life came: on May 8, 2025, he was elected Pope of the Catholic Church.
After his election, the Holy Father updated his identification details on May 30, 2025, when a delegation of four Reniec registrars visited the Vatican.
Thus, he renewed his ID card, obtaining the electronic DNI 3.0.
An ID card with 64 security features
Pope Leo XIV's electronic ID card (DNI 3.0) has 64 security features that protect its authenticity and the holder's information.
The card, made entirely of polycarbonate, is resistant to heat and ultraviolet (UV) rays.
It also incorporates a cryptographic chip with enhanced internal codes for information processing, among other features that ensure the document's security and authenticity.
Given the Holy Father's age, his electronic ID card (DNI 3.0) bears the notation “no expiration date.”
Therefore, he is not required to renew his ID card. Furthermore, under Peruvian electoral law, voting is optional for people in his age group.
Publicado: 14/11/2026