Vatican confirms the pope submitted a mail-in poll in his native Chicago forward of November 3 midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV has change into the primary pontiff to vote in a United States basic election after casting a mail-in poll in Chicago, the place he was born.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope submitted a mail-in poll within the metropolis forward of the November 3 midterm elections, citing his longstanding perception in civic participation.
Really helpful Tales
checklist of three gadgetsfinish of checklist
Leo, previously Robert Prevost, “has exercised his proper to vote as a United States citizen”, as he has finished “at any time when he was eligible to take action”, the Vatican’s press workplace stated.
“The Holy Father expresses his perception in the appropriate and the obligation of residents to take part in democratic processes,” it added.
The Vatican didn’t say which candidates Leo voted for.
In a notice commenting on Leo’s vote, the US Convention of Catholic Bishops urged Catholics to place “our religion earlier than our politics” and “uphold human dignity and the widespread good”.
“In voting, our Holy Father units the instance that encourages every citizen to train their civic accountability,” stated the convention’s director of public affairs, Chieko Noguchi.
Leo is a citizen not solely of the US but additionally of Peru, the place he lived as a priest and bishop for greater than 20 years, in addition to of the Vatican, the place he’s head of state.
US federal legislation permits residents residing overseas, even these working for international governments, to vote by way of absentee poll.
Individuals working for international governments will not be robotically prone to shedding their US citizenship, however the US State Division says on its web site that it might “actively evaluate” the citizenship standing of Individuals who “function a international head of state, international head of presidency, or international minister”.
A daily voter
On this 12 months’s midterm elections, voters within the solidly Democratic state of Illinois, the place Chicago is positioned, will choose a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin and select whether or not to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker.
Leo requested a mail-in poll on October 3, simply 10 days earlier than he underwent surgical procedure to take away a cancerous tumour from his proper lung. He has slowly been resuming his activities on the Vatican after being launched from the hospital on October 17.
Since 2000, Leo has voted in 5 main elections as Prevost, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots thrice, in keeping with data held by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which don’t present which candidates he supported.
Illinois voters should declare a celebration choice to obtain a main poll.
Whereas registered in heavily-Democratic Prepare dinner County, Prevost requested Democratic main ballots in 2008 and 2010. After transferring to the extra conservative Will County, he requested Republican main ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Clashes with Trump
Since Leo’s ascent to the papacy in Might 2025, US President Donald Trump has clashed with the pontiff a number of occasions.
Trump criticised the pope for repeatedly condemning the US-Israel struggle on Iran and for difficult his administration’s crackdown on immigrants.
Earlier this 12 months, Trump known as Leo “weak” and captive to the “radical left”, kicking off a exceptional back-and-forth argument.
Leo responded by telling reporters: “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of talking out loudly in regards to the message of the Gospel, which is what the church works for.”
