The Vatican confirmed on Friday, October 30, 2026, that Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in Chicago for the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The announcement identifies him as the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election. According to British historian Michael Walsh, he is also likely the first pope to participate in a secular democratic election. The Holy See press office stated that the pope, an American citizen, believes in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, has previously served in Peru, where the Vatican says he also exercised his right to vote whenever eligible. Before his election to the papacy in May 2025, Prevost was a cardinal and gave a talk at St. Jude’s parish in New Lenox, Illinois, in 2024. He is currently recovering from recent lung cancer surgery but is proceeding with plans to travel to South America next month.
The Will County clerk’s office reported that the pope requested his mail-in ballot on October 3 while registered at a New Lenox address. Illinois State Board of Elections records indicate that since 2000, Prevost has voted in every general election except for 2020 and 2022, and he also cast a vote in the 2024 presidential election. In primary elections, he requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County, and Republican ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016 after moving to Will County.
The pontiff has previously encouraged the faithful to move past "passivity and indifference" regarding current events, specifically citing issues of injustice and discrimination. This direct involvement follows reported disagreements between the pope and the administration of President Donald Trump over immigration policy and military actions involving Iran. The pope is scheduled to begin his trip to South America in November 2026, following his recovery from surgery.