Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the upcoming United States midterm elections, becoming the first known sitting pope to vote in a US election, the Vatican has confirmed.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday, October 30, that the Chicago-born pontiff had exercised his voting rights as an American citizen by submitting his ballot in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of the November 3 elections.
In its statement, the Vatican said the Pope believed in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. It also confirmed that Leo had voted during his years living in Peru whenever he was eligible to do so.
The Pope, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, reportedly requested his mail-in ballot on October 3 through the Will County Clerk’s Office in Illinois. He remains registered as a voter in the state, where voters will elect a governor, a US senator and other public officials.
The Vatican did not disclose which candidates or political positions the Pope supported. Voting records cited by US media indicate that he previously participated in several general elections and both Democratic and Republican primary elections in Illinois.
His participation is particularly notable because no previous sitting pope is known to have voted in a national election in his home country while serving as head of the Catholic Church.
The November 3 midterm elections will determine all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate, alongside gubernatorial and other state and local contests.