Pope Leo XIV Becomes First Pontiff to Vote in US Election

Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois for the upcoming US midterm elections, making him the first pontiff to ever vote in a U.S. election. The Holy See Press Office confirmed the vote, stating, "The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."

Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV became the first U.S. citizen to lead the Vatican in May 2025. His tenure has seen diplomatic friction with the Trump administration on issues including immigration enforcement and the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. The press office noted that Pope Leo XIV has consistently exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen whenever eligible, including during his years residing in Peru.

The midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, will determine which political party controls the U.S. Congress, significantly impacting the remaining years of Donald Trump's presidency. Early voting has commenced in most states.

According to NBC News, the Pope requested his mail-in ballot from the Will County Clerk's Office on October 3. Less than two weeks later, the Vatican announced he had undergone surgery to remove a lower lobe of his right lung after a diagnosis of lung cancer. Despite this, the Vatican confirmed last week that the 71-year-old Pope plans to proceed with his scheduled travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in early November.

Tensions between the Pope and President Trump heightened in April following the Pope's call for peace after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump publicly criticized the Pope, stating, "I don't think he's doing a very good job." He further commented, "We don't like a Pope that's going to say that it's OK to have a nuclear weapon... I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo." Pope Leo XIV responded by emphasizing the Church's mission to preach peace, stating, "If someone wants to criticise me for preaching the Gospel... I hope simply to be listened to because of the value of God's words."

As the midterms approach, both Republican and Democratic officials are campaigning intensely across the country. Polls indicate that Democrats are favored to win control of the House of Representatives and are projected to gain seats in Republican-leaning districts that previously supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats also have a potential pathway to securing additional seats in the Senate. The challenging outlook for the Republican party has led President Trump to hold numerous rallies in traditionally Republican states.