Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the upcoming United States midterm elections, exercising his voting rights as an American citizen while serving as head of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pontiff had submitted his ballot ahead of the Nov. 3 elections, citing his longstanding belief in civic participation.
The Holy See press office said Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, had exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible as a U.S. citizen.
It added that he had also voted while living in Peru, where he spent more than 20 years serving as a missionary priest and bishop.
“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement said.
Leo holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship and serves as head of state of the Holy See. Vatican City, an absolute monarchy, does not hold political elections.
The upcoming elections will determine several key political positions in Illinois, including whether Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker secures a third term and who fills an open U.S. Senate seat following the retirement of longtime senator Dick Durbin.
Although President Donald Trump is not on the ballot, he has campaigned to maintain Republican control of the House of Representatives and Senate during the final two years of his second term.
The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the pope’s vote, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office as saying Leo, who is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.
The request came 10 days before the pope underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. He was discharged from hospital on Oct. 17 and has gradually resumed his activities at the Vatican.
It remains unclear how Leo returned his ballot. His older brother, John Prevost, was in Rome during the week, accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox.
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