Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election.

The Vatican confirmed that the American born pope, who is from Chicago, submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

“Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election,” said Kim Fladhammer, Will County clerk’s office chief of staff, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The pope, who is registered to a New Lenox address, made the request Oct. 3,” the outlet stated.

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Records show Prevost voted in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 Republican primaries, as well as in the 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024 general elections. He also voted in Democratic primaries in 2008 and 2010. He did not vote in Illinois’ March primary. In Illinois, voters do not have to register by party and can choose parties for their primary ballot.

“There is no such thing as an absentee ballot in Illinois law anymore. So anyone can vote by mail if they so choose. There is also a law called UOCAVA, The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act that is mostly for the military, but it’s also for U.S. citizens who are overseas,” Matt Dietrich, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections said. “…Any Illinois registered voter can vote by mail. Until 2010, it was considered absentee, and you had to have an excuse. But that’s all gone away. So that’s obviously what he’s doing.”

The pope will weigh in on the U.S. Senate race to replace Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov. JB Pritzker’s reelection bid, as well as Will County judicial and county races, among other races.

Pope Leo and President Donald Trump have had some public feuds since the papal leader was elected, including clashes about the war in Iran, immigration enforcement and Venezuela. The pope has been a vocal critic of mass deportations and family separation and has voiced his concerns about the dangers of artificial intelligence and has strongly opposed military strikes and armed conflicts.

The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Leo XIV “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so.”

The Press Office confirmed that, “in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.”

The pope expressed his “belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” a statement noted.

“The Holy Father has also confirmed that, during his years of residence in Peru he exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible to do so,” the statement added.

CBS News shared further:

The pope has been recovering and resuming his activities at the Vatican after being released from the hospital Oct. 17 and is moving ahead with plans for a trip to South America next month.

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Last month, Leo told a general audience at the Vatican that the faithful should leave behind “all passivity and indifference” toward current events.

“We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved,” the pope said on Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square, according to the Catholic News Service. “With Christ and sustained by the power of his Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination and violence.”

The pope has a long history of civic engagement in the U.S., the Vatican said, confirming that during his nearly two decades as a missionary then bishop in Peru, Leo voted whenever he was eligible. He holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship.

 

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