By Salma El-Sakka
Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff in history to cast a ballot in a United States general election, the Vatican confirmed on Friday. The Chicago-born pope submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of November’s midterm elections, citing his long-standing belief in civic participation.
Vatican confirms historic vote
The Holy See press office stated that Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen” whenever eligible, including during his years living in Peru. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement added.
Mail-in ballot requested in October
The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the vote, quoting the Will County clerk’s chief of staff. The pope, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. It remains unclear how the completed ballot was returned.
Voting record shows partisan shifts
Illinois State Board of Elections records show that since 2000, Prevost has voted in five primary elections, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times. While registered in heavily Democratic Cook County, he requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After moving to more conservative Will County, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Records also indicate he submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except those in 2020 and 2022.
Brother accompanies parishioners to Rome
The pope’s brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week accompanying parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian-run parish in New Lenox, Illinois. The elder Prevost attends Mass there, and Leo gave a talk at the parish in 2024 while still a cardinal.
