Russia’s Supreme Court has overturned an appeal from a Russian national who urged the country’s judiciary to recognize his ownership of the Vatican, the court’s spokeswoman said on Thursday.

“The court has reviewed an appeal from Roman Lugovoi, who requested the establishment of Vatican inheritance and property rights. The appeal has been dismissed,” the spokeswoman said, adding that Lugovoi had named the pope as defendant in his claim.

She however did not elaborate why Lugovoi considered himself a legitimate heir to the See of Rome.

In early 2012, a Moscow arbitration court dismissed a claim from a woman who said she had the right to own a part of the Kremlin, naming then President Dmitry Medvedev, the government, the Culture Ministry and the federal property watchdog Rosimushchestvo as defendants.

In October 2011, the court overturned a similar claim from the head of the Fund for the Assistance to the National and Religious Agreement, who said that he was a descendant of the ancient Russian dynasty of the Ryuriks and was entitled to part of the Kremlin.