Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general election | Elections News
Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail-in Ballot in Chicago for November Midterm Elections
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has made history as the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election after submitting a mail-in ballot from his hometown of Chicago. The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope, who was born in Chicago, cast his vote ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, emphasizing his commitment to civic engagement.
According to a statement from the Vatican’s press office, Leo, whose birth name is Robert Prevost, has consistently exercised his right to vote whenever eligible. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement read. The Vatican, however, did not disclose the candidates for whom Leo voted.
In response to the pope’s participation, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encouraged believers to prioritize “faith before politics” while emphasizing the importance of upholding human dignity and the common good. Chieko Noguchi, the conference’s director of public affairs, remarked that the pope’s action sets an example for citizens to fulfill their civic responsibilities.
Pope Leo holds citizenship not only in the United States but also in Peru, where he served as a priest and bishop for over 20 years, and in the Vatican, where he is the head of state. Under U.S. federal law, citizens residing abroad, including those employed by foreign governments, are permitted to vote absentee.
In Illinois, where Chicago is located, voters will decide on a successor for retiring Senator Dick Durbin and determine whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker during the midterm elections. Leo requested his mail-in ballot on October 3, just days before undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. He has since resumed his activities at the Vatican following his release from the hospital on October 17.
Since 2000, Leo has participated in five primary elections under his birth name, having requested Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to records maintained by the Illinois State Board of Elections. Voters in Illinois must declare a party preference for primary ballots.
While registered in the heavily Democratic Cook County, Leo sought Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After relocating to the more conservative Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Since ascending to the papacy in May 2025, Pope Leo has encountered multiple disagreements with U.S. President Donald Trump. The president has criticized the pope for his condemnations of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and for opposing his administration’s immigration policies. Earlier this year, Trump labeled Leo as “weak” and influenced by the “radical left,” prompting a notable exchange of words between the two.
In response to Trump, Leo stated, “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the church works for.”
