Pope Leo XIV sends in mail ballot as U.S. democracy limps toward midterms
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The Chicago-born pontiff, a U.S. citizen, mailed his ballot in Illinois for the November 3 midterms, becoming the first pope ever to vote in a U.S. election and underscoring the basic democratic right the powerful so often treat as optional.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. citizen to hold the Vatican’s highest office, mailed a ballot from Illinois on October 3 for the November 3 midterm elections. The Holy See Press Office said the pontiff’s action reflects his belief in the right and duty of citizens to take part in democratic processes, a reminder that voting is supposed to belong to everyone, not just the loudest and most powerful. The Pope requested the mail-in ballot from the Will County Clerk’s Office and submitted it less than two weeks later.
The Vatican confirmed that the 71-year-old Pope, who was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to remove part of his right lung, will proceed with scheduled trips to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in early November. The midterm elections will decide which party controls Congress during the final years of President Donald Trump’s term, making the stakes especially high as political divisions deepen.
Relations between the Pope and the Trump administration have been strained, with public criticism exchanged in April after the Pope called for peace following U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran. The Pope later reiterated that the Church’s mission is to preach the Gospel and peace, pushing back against the escalation and rhetoric that have marked the moment.
Both Republican and Democratic campaigns are intensifying efforts nationwide as polls show Democrats leading in the race for control of the House of Representatives, a sign that voters may be looking for a check on the right-wing agenda driving Washington.