Pope Leo XIV Votes by Mail in Illinois Midterms, a First for Any Pope

Breaking

Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed Friday, Oct. 30, making the Chicago-born pontiff the first pope to vote in an American election. “The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The statement said the pope “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so.” It added, “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.” The pope, born Robert Francis Prevost, remains a U.S. citizen and also holds Peruvian citizenship. He was elected in May 2025 as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.

Details & Background

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Thursday that Leo is still a registered Illinois voter and requested a mail ballot through the Will County clerk’s office on Oct. 3. “Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election,” Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff in the Will County clerk’s office, told the newspaper. He is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, where his older brother John lives.

His ballot includes the U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, the governor’s race with Gov. J.B. Pritzker seeking reelection, and county and judicial contests. Voting records cited by the Sun-Times show he voted in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016, Democratic primaries in 2008 and 2010, and several general elections, including 2024. He did not vote in Illinois’ March primary. Illinois voters do not register by party, and U.S. citizens living overseas can vote by mail under federal law.

Reactions

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops praised the move. “In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility,” said Chieko Noguchi, the bishops’ executive director of public affairs. She said the conference “has been encouraging Catholics to exercise their right to vote” and “to inform their conscience as they prepare to vote.” Pritzker posted on social media, “If the Pope can vote all the way from Vatican City, you can too!”

Leo’s vote comes after public friction with the White House. The pope has criticized the treatment of immigrants and called for an end to the war with Iran, and President Donald Trump has called him “weak” and influenced by the “radical left,” according to the International Business Times. Leo has told reporters, “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel.” The Vatican has since worked to rebuild trust with Washington. How he voted remains private.

Why This Matters to You

The pope’s vote is a reminder that voting is both a right and a responsibility. If the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics can request a ballot from Vatican City and mail it home to Illinois, few Americans have an excuse to sit out an election that will decide control of Congress.

It also shows how American democracy reaches its citizens wherever they are. Federal law protects the right of Americans living abroad, including service members and missionaries, to vote by mail. With Election Day on Tuesday, the first American pope has made clear that he considers taking part in that process a duty. In an April message, Leo wrote that democracy “recognizes the dignity of every person and calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good.”