First Pope Votes in U.S. Election

Pope Leo XIV has made history as the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. general election, casting a mail-in ballot ahead of the November midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed the vote Friday, stating that the Chicago-born pope has long believed in the importance of civic participation.

Formerly known as Robert Prevost, the pontiff “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen” and has done so “whenever he was eligible to do so,” according to a statement from the Holy See press office. The statement also noted that he voted while residing in Peru whenever eligible.

"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Vatican said.

The Chicago Sun-Times initially reported the vote, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office. Prevost, registered at a New Lenox address, reportedly requested a mail-in ballot on October 3.

It remains unclear how the ballot was returned. His brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox, where Pope Leo XIV, as Cardinal Prevost, delivered a talk in 2024 and attends Mass.

Records from the Illinois State Board of Elections indicate that Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections since 2000. He requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County, and switched to Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016 after moving to the more conservative Will County. General election records show he has voted in every general election since 2000, with the exceptions of 2020 and 2022. The records do not specify his choices in these elections.