Illinois treasurer’s gift to Pope Leo? $8.65 of pontiff’s own money

Illinois treasurer’s gift to Pope Leo? $8.65 of pontiff’s own money

Illinois Treasurer Gifts Pope Leo XIV with Reclaimed $8.65 in Hilarious and Unforgettable Encounter

Background on the Unlikely Gift

Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs recently delivered a unique gift to Pope Leo XIV, the successor of St. Peter and a Chicago native, in the form of a certificate to reclaim $8.65 of his own money from a now-closed PayPal account. This sum had been sitting in Illinois’ unclaimed property account, and Frerichs, as the account’s administrator, had been trying to return it to its rightful owner.

A Personal Touch to the Gift

Frerichs took the opportunity to gift the pontiff in person, accompanied by his wife Erica, as part of a delegation organized by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. They paid for the trip personally, without using any campaign or state funds, and made it a point to include some personal touches, such as a commemorative Abraham Lincoln coin and a book about Chicago history.

The Reactions and Aftermath

Upon receiving the certificate, Pope Leo XIV shared a humorous anecdote about his experience with a bank in Illinois, where he was hung up on after revealing his identity as the pope. Frerichs could relate, having had a similar experience with a bank in the past. As for the $8.65, it may seem like a small amount, but it has garnered significant attention and could potentially lead to more people visiting the treasurer’s website to check for unclaimed property.

The Impact of the Treasurer’s Efforts

Frerichs’ office has returned over $2.5 billion to more than 2.5 million people since he first took office in 2015. This includes an $11 million return, which is the largest in U.S. history. By marketing unclaimed property in a unique and engaging way, Frerichs aims to encourage more people to visit the website and claim their rightful property.

How to Check for Unclaimed Property

Any Illinois resident can check if they have unclaimed property by visiting the treasurer’s website at icash.illinoistreasurer.gov. This service is available to everyone, and it’s a great way to potentially recover lost or forgotten funds. As for Pope Leo XIV, he just needs to provide an address to receive his reclaimed $8.65.

Source: WorldNewsAPI | Read original