Pope Leo XIV has made history by casting an absentee ballot in the upcoming United States midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed the move on Friday, noting that the pontiff remains an American citizen and views political participation as an essential civic duty.
According to Punch, the Holy See Press Office stated that the Chicago-born pope, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, has consistently exercised his voting rights whenever eligible. The Vatican noted that he maintained this practice during his years living in Peru and has now submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.
The 71-year-old pontiff is registered to vote in Will County, Illinois, specifically in New Lenox, a Chicago suburb where his brother John lives. Public records indicate that he requested his mail-in ballot on October 3. Historians note that this marks the first known time a reigning leader of the worldwide Catholic Church has voted in a secular democratic contest.
The pope was elected to lead the Catholic Church in May 2025 following a long ecclesiastical career. Before his election as pontiff, he participated in several American political contests, including Democratic and Republican primaries as well as the 2024 presidential election. He has also used his office to encourage civic dialogue, speaking openly on global concerns such as immigration and international conflicts.
His public stances have at times brought friction with the administration of US President Donald Trump. While Trump voiced strong criticisms of the pontiff earlier in the year, those remarks have softened recently, with the American president often pointing out that the pope's eldest brother, Louis, backs his movement.
The papal ballot arrives just ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, where voters across the United States will decide congressional seats, governorships, and crucial state races. In Illinois, the ballot features contests to fill the seat of retiring US Senator Dick Durbin and the reelection campaign of Governor JB Pritzker.
Pope Leo XIV has recently been recovering from lung cancer surgery performed earlier this month. As he resumes his official responsibilities, he is preparing for an apostolic tour across South America that includes scheduled visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November.
