In brief
In a historic gesture underscoring the link between faith and civic duty, Pope Leo XIV cast a mail‑in ballot in Chicago ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, marking the first time a pope has voted in a U.S. election. The Vatican confirmed the act, citing his long‑standing belief in civic participation, while the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged Catholics to prioritize faith over politics. The move comes amid ongoing tensions between the papacy and President Donald Trump and reflects the complex legal status of the pope as an American, Peruvian, and Vatican citizen.
On Friday, Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail‑in ballot in Chicago, becoming the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election.
According to the Vatican’s press office, Leo – formerly Robert Prevost – "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, as he has done ‘whenever he was eligible to do so,’" the release read. The Holy Father’s decision was framed as an affirmation of his belief in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes, though he did not disclose the candidates he supported.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded by urging Catholics to put their faith before politics. "In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility," said Chieko Noguchi, the conference’s director of public affairs. The bishops called on the faithful to uphold human dignity and the common good in their electoral choices.
Leo’s vote is legally permissible because United States federal law allows citizens living abroad—including those who serve the Vatican—to vote via absentee ballot. The U.S. State Department notes that it may review the citizenship status of Americans who serve as a foreign head of state, foreign head of government, or foreign minister, but such service does not automatically eliminate U.S. citizenship. Leo, who holds U.S., Peruvian, and Vatican citizenship, therefore retains the legal right to participate in the U.S. voting system.
The ballot was sent to Chicago, a city where Leo was born, as part of the November 3 midterm elections in the solidly Democratic state of Illinois. Illinois voters will choose a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and decide whether to re‑elect Governor JB Pritzker. The outcomes of those contests have significant implications for national policy and the balance of power in Congress.
Election Stakes and Civic Impact
Leo’s participation highlights how individual electorates can influence the political landscape. The upcoming Illinois votes will shape the composition of the Senate and the executive leadership of the state, affecting legislation on healthcare, education, and environmental policy. As the first ecclesiastical figure to engage in the U.S. electoral process, Leo’s act serves as a symbolic reminder that civic engagement is intertwined with broader societal responsibilities.
Historically, Leo – known in civilian life as Robert Prevost – has voted five times in Illinois primary elections since 2000, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times. Election officials have confirmed that he has exercised his voting rights whenever eligible, but have not released any record of the specific candidates he chose.
Leo’s casting of a ballot came just ten days after he requested a mail‑in ballot on October 3, shortly before undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. He was released from the hospital on October 17 and has been gradually resuming his duties at the Vatican.
The Vatican’s emphasis on civic participation comes against a backdrop of political tension between the papacy and President Donald Trump. Earlier this year, Pope Leo publicly criticized Trump’s stances on immigration and environmental policy, leading to heightened scrutiny over the Pope’s engagement in U.S. politics.
By exercising his right to vote, Pope Leo signals that personal citizenship, institutional duty, and faith can coexist in the democratic arena. His action invites broader reflection on how religious leaders and ordinary citizens alike may balance spiritual commitments with the responsibilities that arise in a pluralistic society. The vote not only influences immediate political outcomes but also sets a precedent for the participation of future Vatican officials in national elections wherever they hold citizenship.
