Pope Leo XIV Makes History as First Pontiff to Cast a U.S. Ballot
WHO:
Al Jazeera - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged Catholics to put “our faith before our politics” and uphold human dignity and the common good. Its director of public affairs, Chieko Noguchi, said Leo’s vote “sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility.”
CBS News - Pope Leo XIV is recovering from recent surgery for lung cancer.
Fox News - Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, is an American-born pope and a U.S. citizen.
Boston.com News - The Holy See press office said Leo “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen” whenever eligible.
CNN - Historian and papacy author Michael Walsh said, “I don’t think popes have ever voted in a democratic election before.”
CNN - Leo’s brother John lives in New Lenox, Illinois; his eldest brother, Louis, is a Trump supporter, CNN reported.
CBS News - Leo’s brother John Prevost accompanied parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox, to Rome.
CBS News - The Vatican said Leo also voted when eligible during his years living in Peru.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - The Vatican did not disclose which candidates Leo voted for.
Al Jazeera - Illinois voters will choose a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and decide whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker.
Al Jazeera - U.S. federal law allows citizens living abroad, including people working for foreign governments, to vote by absentee ballot.
CNN - Trump’s administration has clashed with Pope Leo XIV over the war in Iran and its immigration crackdown; Trump launched “an unprecedented set of broadsides” against Leo earlier this year and has been less critical lately.
CNN - Leo submitted a mail-in ballot for the U.S. midterms, becoming the first pope to vote in a U.S. election and likely the first to vote in a secular democratic election.
CBS News - The Vatican confirmed Leo submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the midterm elections.
CNN - The Vatican said Leo believes citizens have “the right and the duty” to participate in democratic processes.
CBS News - Illinois records show Leo voted in five primary elections since 2000: Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010, and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016. The records do not identify his chosen candidates.
CBS News - Records show Leo submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except 2020 and 2022.
CBS News - Leo told a Vatican general audience, “We cannot remain as unengaged spectators”; he called on believers to become involved and support people facing “injustice, discrimination and violence.”
WHERE:
CNN - Leo is registered to vote at an address in New Lenox, a Chicago suburb in Will County, Illinois.
CBS News - Leo’s brother John attends Mass at St. Jude’s in New Lenox; Leo gave a talk there in 2024 while still a cardinal.
CNN - Leo was born in Chicago.
WHEN:
Al Jazeera - The midterm elections are scheduled for “November 3.”
CBS News - Leo is planning a trip to South America next month.
Fox News - Leo requested a mail ballot from Vatican City for Illinois’ midterm elections.
CBS News - The Will County clerk’s office chief of staff said Leo requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.
CBS News - Leo made his remarks at a general audience on Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square.
CNN - Leo was elected pope in May 2025 and cast a ballot in the 2024 presidential election.
WHY:
CBS News - The Vatican cited Leo’s longstanding belief in civic participation as the reason for his voting.
CNN - Since becoming pope, Leo has encouraged civic involvement and urged people to make their voices heard about the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - The State Department says it may “actively review” the citizenship status of Americans who serve as a foreign head of state, foreign head of government, or foreign minister.
CBS News - The Vatican said Leo voted whenever eligible during his years living in Peru.
Fox News - Leo requested a mail ballot while in Vatican City.
CBS News - Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot; no party declaration is required in general elections.
CBS News - Leo requested Democratic primary ballots while registered in Cook County, then Republican primary ballots after moving to Will County.
(UPDATED October 31, 2026 06:58 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois, becoming the first pope to vote in a U.S. election. The Vatican says he believes citizens have a right and duty to participate in democracy. He has voted whenever eligible, but the Vatican has not disclosed his candidate choices.
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(UPDATED October 30, 2026 16:01 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois’ midterms, becoming the first pope to vote in a U.S. election. The Vatican says Leo believes citizens have both the right and duty to participate in democracy. He has encouraged civic involvement, despite clashes with President Trump over Iran and immigration.
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(UPDATED October 30, 2026 15:05 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois, becoming the first pope known to vote in a U.S. election. The Vatican says the American-born pontiff believes citizens have both a right and duty to participate in democracy. Records show he voted in several past elections, though they don’t reveal which candidates he supported.