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Pope Leo XIV has made history by becoming the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election after casting a mail-in ballot in Chicago, his birthplace. The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope submitted his ballot in the city ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, highlighting his longstanding commitment to civic participation.
Citizenship and Voting Rights
The Vatican press office stated that Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, exercised his voting right as a US citizen, continuing a practice he has maintained whenever eligible. The office emphasized that the pontiff believes strongly in the right and duty of citizens to engage in democratic processes, though the Vatican did not disclose which candidates he supported.
Chieko Noguchi, director of public affairs for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, praised the action in a statement, noting that the Holy Father sets an example encouraging every citizen to fulfill their civic responsibility. The conference also reminded Catholics to prioritize faith over politics and uphold human dignity and the common good.
Alongside his US citizenship, Leo holds citizenship in Peru, where he served as a priest and bishop for over two decades, and in the Vatican, where he serves as head of state. United States federal law permits citizens living abroad, including those employed by foreign governments, to vote using absentee ballots. While the US State Department notes it may review the citizenship of Americans serving as foreign heads of state, government, or ministers, such roles do not automatically forfeit US citizenship.
Voting History in Illinois
During this year’s midterm elections in Illinois, a solidly Democratic state, voters are choosing a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and deciding whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker. Chicago is situated within this state.
Records from the Illinois State Board of Elections show that Prevost requested a mail-in ballot on October 3, just 10 days before undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. Following his hospital discharge on October 17, he has gradually returned to his duties at the Vatican. Electoral records dating back to 2000 indicate that Leo has participated in five primary elections as Prevost, selecting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, without revealing his specific candidate choices.
Because Illinois voters must declare a party preference to obtain a primary ballot, voting history shows Prevost requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County. After relocating to Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Tensions with the Trump Administration
Since ascending to the papacy in May 2025, Pope Leo has engaged in several public disagreements with US President Donald Trump. Trump criticized the pontiff for frequently condemning the US-Israel war on Iran and opposing the administration’s immigration crackdown.
Earlier this year, Trump labeled the pope “weak” and influenced by the “radical left,” sparking a notable exchange between the two leaders. In response, Leo told reporters that he does not fear the Trump administration and remains committed to speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.
