Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
publishers 22articles 23first reported 30 Oct, 16:01 UTCdeveloping since 30 Oct · 3 editions
Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections, becoming the first sitting pontiff known to have voted in a political election, the Vatican said Friday.
Leo, a U.S. citizen born in Chicago, submitted his vote there ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. The Vatican said he “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” including while living in Peru as a missionary. It added that the pope believes citizens have both a right and a duty to participate in democratic processes.
Before his election as the first American pope last year, Leo was known as Robert Prevost. The Guardian reported that he requested the ballot on Oct. 3 and registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois.
The vote follows several public disagreements between Leo and President Donald Trump. Leo has criticized the administration’s immigration policies as “inhuman” and has also challenged Trump over foreign policy. Trump, in turn, has attacked the pontiff’s positions. The Vatican did not disclose how Leo voted.
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