Pope Leo becomes the first pontiff to vote in a US election

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a United States general election, after casting a postal ballot in his native Chicago ahead of next week's midterm elections.

The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope had submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of the 3 November elections, citing his long-held belief in taking part in civic life.

"The right and the duty of citizens"

Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen", as he has done "whenever he was eligible to do so", the Vatican's press office said.

"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," it added. The Vatican did not say which candidates he voted for.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomed the example. "In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility," said Chieko Noguchi, the conference's director of public affairs.

A citizen of three countries

Leo is a citizen not only of the United States but also of Peru, where he lived as a priest and bishop for more than 20 years, and of the Vatican, where he is head of state. US federal law allows citizens living abroad, including those working for foreign governments, to vote by absentee ballot.

He requested his ballot on 3 October, ten days before he had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. He has been gradually returning to his duties at the Vatican since leaving hospital on 17 October.

A long record of voting

Records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections show he has voted in five primary elections since 2000, though they do not show which candidates he supported.

He requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County, and Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016 after moving to Will County, according to the same records.

In Illinois, voters in this year's midterms will choose a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and decide whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker.

Why it matters

Leo became the first pope from the United States when he was elected in May 2025. His decision to vote, while not revealing how, sends a message about the importance of taking part in democracy, one that will resonate with Catholics around the world, including Birmingham's large Catholic community, which is served by St Chad's Cathedral and parishes across the city.

The midterm elections take place on Tuesday 3 November, with early voting already under way across the United States.