On Friday, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, submitted a mail‑in ballot in Chicago for the November 3 midterm elections, making him the first pope to cast a vote in a U.S. general election.
The pope, who was born in Chicago and is a U.S. citizen, had previously voted in five primary elections since 2000—on Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2019 and on Republican ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016. He has also voted in every general election in the United States since 2000, except in 2020 and 2022, according to Illinois election records.
In a statement, the Holy See’s press office said, “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.” The Vatican noted that Leo has exercised his voting rights whenever he was eligible, both in the United States and while living in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop.
Chicago officials confirmed that the pope was registered to vote in Cook County and had submitted his ballot from a New Lenox address. The act underscores the pontiff’s longstanding commitment to civic engagement and serves as a symbolic reminder of the importance of voting for all eligible citizens.
As the U.S. heads into a pivotal midterm election, Leo XIV’s participation highlights the intersection of faith and civic duty in a modern democracy.
