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Illinois Treasurer Pays $8.65 Vatican Trip, Presents Pope Certificate

6/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs personally funded a Vatican trip to give Pope Leo XIV a certificate for an $8.65 unclaimed-property claim.
Frerichs said the trip was paid with his own money, not campaign or state funds.
Since 2015 his office has returned over $2.5 billion to more than 2.5 million people, making the $8.65 payout a tiny fraction.
The Pope laughed and asked for an address to mail the check.

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Story summary

Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs personally funded a Vatican trip to give Pope Leo XIV a certificate for an $8.65 unclaimed-property claim.
Frerichs said the trip was paid with his own money, not campaign or state funds.
Since 2015 his office has returned over $2.5 billion to more than 2.5 million people, making the $8.65 payout a tiny fraction.
The Pope laughed and asked for an address to mail the check.