Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot as U.S. midterms draw closer
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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 to vote in a U.S. election and drawing fresh attention to the civic participation he says citizens should embrace.
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 principle that applies equally to every voter. 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, and voters will judge the direction of the country under his leadership.
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, even as the administration and its supporters defended America’s response.
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 result that could reflect the left’s organizing push rather than any broad public mandate.