Pope Leo XIV made U.S. political history by voting in the upcoming midterm elections from the Vatican.
The Chicago-born pontiff, who remains an American citizen, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois, according to the Vatican. The vote made him the first pope known to participate in a U.S. general election.
The Chicago-born pope reportedly cast his ballot in the U.S. midterms
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that Leo, 71, exercised his voting rights ahead of Tuesday’s elections.
According to TMZ, the pope, born Robert Prevost, requested his ballot on October 3.
The Vatican also said Leo had regularly participated in American elections whenever he qualified to vote, including during the years he lived in Peru.
His participation reflected his belief that citizens have both a right and a responsibility to take part in the democratic process.
The timing of Pope Leo XIV‘s ballot request also came shortly before a major health development.
Ten days after requesting the ballot, Leo underwent surgery in Rome after doctors detected a tumor in his right lung. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, and he left the hospital on October 17. He has since gradually resumed his Vatican duties.
The Vatican did not reveal which candidates received Leo’s vote.
His past voting record included participation in both Democratic and Republican primaries, offering no clear indication of how he voted in the current U.S. midterms.
The historic ballot also followed public disagreements between Leo and President Donald Trump over issues including immigration and war.
However, the Vatican did not connect those disputes to the pope’s voting choices or identify any candidate he supported.
Leo has kept his selections private while making history as the first sitting pope known to vote in an American election.
