Pope Leo Votes in Illinois Midterms, First Pontiff to Cast Ballot in U.S. Election

Pope Leo, the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, cast his ballot in Illinois via mail-in for the 2026 midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed.

In a statement, the Holy See press office said the "Chicago-born pontiff has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen" and expressed his belief in "the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."

Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office, confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that the Pope was on the list of individuals who requested a mail-in ballot. British historian Michael Walsh told CNN this marks the first time a pope has voted in a democratic, secular election.

The Pope's vote follows a period of public criticism directed at President Trump. Pope Leo has previously condemned Trump's actions regarding Iran, calling the war "unjust" and criticizing the president's rhetoric concerning Iran's "whole civilization." Trump, in turn, publicly criticized the Pope on social media.

Pope Leo has also consistently spoken out against Trump's policies on immigration and border control. During a U.S. television interview in July 2026, he described the administration's treatment of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as "inhumane," referencing American principles of freedom and opportunity.

Records indicate that Pope Leo, a U.S. citizen, is registered to vote in New Lenox, a Chicago suburb. He has previously voted in both Republican and Democratic primaries, as well as the 2024 presidential election.

His engagement with political matters has at times coincided with controversial actions by the Trump administration. In April, following Pope Leo's denouncement of the "delusion of omnipotence" fueling the war in Iran and his call for peace, Trump posted images on social media that appeared to be AI-generated art depicting himself as Jesus Christ and Trump Tower on the moon.

During a prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica on the same day U.S. and Iran began peace negotiations, Pope Leo urged leaders to "choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force but by dialogue," without explicitly mentioning specific conflicts or political figures. He lamented that the public was "growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it and becoming indifferent."

In the 2024 election, President Trump secured 55 percent of the Catholic vote, according to AP VoteCast. However, Trump's administration has maintained close ties with conservative evangelical leaders who have claimed divine endorsement for actions such as the war in Iran.