Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in the U.S. midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed Friday, becoming the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, The Washington Post reported. The Holy See Press Office said the American citizen submitted his ballot in Chicago and had voted whenever eligible while living in Peru, describing civic participation as a long-standing practice.
More context
Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed Friday, making him the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, according to The Washington Post. The Holy See Press Office said Leo, a U.S. citizen, submitted his ballot in Chicago. It said he had voted whenever eligible during his years living in Peru and described the ballot as part of a “long-standing practice of civic participation.” The statement said Leo believes citizens have “the right and the duty” to participate in democratic processes. The midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for election.
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1011now, The Washington Post, and Vatican News all report that Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterms and describe it as a first for a pope. The reports are dated October 30, 2026, consistent with the proposed event’s timing.