Pope Leo XIV Votes in U.S. Election, First Pontiff to Do So

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in the Catholic Church's history to vote in a U.S. election. The Holy See Press Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois.

"Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so," the Holy See Press Office stated. "The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago." The statement also noted that Pope Leo XIV voted in Peru when he was eligible during his time residing there.

The Will County clerk’s office informed the Chicago Sun-Times that Pope Leo XIV requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3. The Vatican subsequently confirmed the ballot's submission.

"Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election," Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk’s office, told the Chicago Sun-Times. According to Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich, any registered Illinois voter can vote by mail, a practice that has been permissible without needing an excuse since 2010.

Among the contests on the Illinois ballot is the race for governor, featuring incumbent Democrat J.B. Pritzker against Republican Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett. Neither the Will County clerk’s office nor Pritzker's campaign immediately responded to requests for comment.

Pope Leo XIV, who is the first American-born pope, underwent surgery on Oct. 13 to remove a small tumor from his right lung at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. His doctors confirmed on Oct. 21 that no further cancer treatment was necessary following the successful removal of the tumor. He was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 17.