Pope Leo XIV Casts Historic Mail Ballot in Illinois Midterms

Key points

• Vatican confirmed Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot for the November 3 US midterm elections.
• Leo is the first pope in history to vote in a US general election, and likely the first to vote in any secular democratic election.
• The pontiff requested the ballot on October 3, shortly before undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
• Leo retains US citizenship despite being head of state of the Vatican, allowing him to vote via absentee ballot under US federal law.
• The Vatican did not disclose which candidates Leo voted for, though records show he has requested both Democratic and Republican primary ballots in the past.

Background

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, has a long history of civic participation in Illinois. He has voted in five primary elections since 2000, requesting Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010, and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. His recent vote follows a period of public clashes with President Donald Trump, who criticized the pope for condemning the US-Israel war on Iran and challenging immigration crackdowns. Leo has also recently recovered from lung cancer surgery, having been released from the hospital on October 17. The vote occurs amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions between the Vatican and the White House, with the Holy See citing a lack of necessity for direct high-level contact with the US administration.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera, CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times all confirm the historic nature of Pope Leo's vote, emphasizing his status as the first pontiff to vote in a US general election. CNN and The New York Times highlight that Leo may be the first pope to vote in any secular democratic election, citing historians who cannot recall a previous pope voting in such a context. Fox News focuses on the legal mechanics, noting that Illinois law allows any registered voter to vote by mail, and that Leo's citizenship is not automatically at risk despite his role as a foreign head of state. All outlets agree that the Vatican did not disclose his specific choices, though records show he has voted across party lines in the past. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, cited by Al Jazeera, urged Catholics to put faith before politics, while CNN noted Leo's recent meeting with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, though the two have disagreed on issues like medically assisted death.

Why it matters

Pope Leo's vote underscores the complex intersection of religious authority, national citizenship, and democratic participation. As the first American-born pope, his civic engagement sets a precedent for the Vatican's relationship with secular democracies. The vote also highlights the ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration, as Leo continues to speak out on issues like immigration and foreign policy despite public criticism from the White House. For US Catholics, the pope's example reinforces the importance of civic duty, even as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops urges voters to prioritize human dignity and the common good over partisan politics.

What to watch

The November 3 midterm elections will determine the outcome of key races in Illinois, including the governor's seat and a US Senate seat. Pope Leo's vote, while historic, is unlikely to influence the outcome, but it may serve as a symbol of civic engagement for US Catholics. The Vatican and the White House may continue to navigate their tensions, with Leo's public stance on issues like immigration and foreign policy likely to remain a point of contention. The US State Department may also review Leo's citizenship status, as it has the authority to do so for Americans serving as foreign heads of state, though no action has been announced.