Pope Leo XIV Makes History by Voting in U.S. Midterm Elections
The Chicago-born pontiff submitted a mail-in ballot from the Vatican, marking the first time a sitting pope has participated in an American general election.
Pope Leo XIV has secured a unique place in American political history by voting in the U.S. midterm elections from the Vatican. The 71-year-old pontiff, who was born in Chicago and retains his American citizenship, submitted a mail-in ballot for the state of Illinois ahead of the November 3, 2026, elections, according to an announcement by the Vatican.
The Vatican confirmed on a Friday that the pope exercised his voting rights, noting that his participation underscores his belief that civic engagement is both a fundamental right and a duty for all citizens. Election records indicate that the pontiff, whose birth name is Robert Prevost, has consistently participated in American elections whenever eligible, including the years he lived abroad in Peru.
The timing of the ballot request coincided closely with a significant health scare for the pontiff. Records show that Pope Leo requested his mail-in ballot on October 3. Just ten days later, medical professionals in Rome detected a tumor in his right lung, necessitating surgery to remove the lower lobe. He was discharged from the hospital on October 17 and has since been slowly returning to his regular Vatican responsibilities.
While the historic vote has drawn intense interest, the Vatican has maintained that the ballot does not represent an endorsement of any specific political party, candidate, or platform. The Vatican did not disclose which candidates received the pontiff's vote, keeping his selections private.
Past records indicate that the pope has previously participated in both Democratic and Republican primary elections, offering no clear pattern or indication of his current political preferences. Furthermore, the historic ballot follows a series of public policy disagreements between Pope Leo and President Donald Trump, specifically regarding issues surrounding immigration and military action.
Despite those public clashes over policy matters, the Vatican did not connect the disputes to the pope's voting decisions or suggest any correlation between his foreign policy critiques and his participation in the domestic American election. As the first sitting pope known to cast a ballot in a U.S. general election, Pope Leo continues to navigate his dual roles as global religious leader and American citizen.