Pope Leo XIV has participated in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections by casting a mail-in ballot, marking the first time a sitting pope has voted in an American election, Vatican officials confirmed on Friday. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, the pontiff exercised his voting rights as a U.S. citizen by submitting his absentee ballot from his registered address in New Lenox, Illinois, approximately 41 miles southwest of Chicago.
The Vatican did not disclose the content of Pope Leo XIV’s vote but emphasized his long-standing commitment to civic engagement. According to the Holy See, the pope views participating in democratic processes as both a right and a responsibility of citizenship. The announcement came amid heightened political tensions in the United States, including ongoing debates over the integrity of mail-in voting, a method President Donald Trump has frequently criticized.
Pope Leo XIV, who previously went by Robert Prevost, has a documented history of voting in U.S. elections, including participation in both Republican and Democratic primaries in the years 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, as well as general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024. Illinois law allows voters to participate in any one party’s primary without prior party registration. This flexibility has enabled the pope to alternate his primary votes between major parties over the years.
Before his papacy, Leo also obtained Peruvian citizenship during his time as a missionary and bishop in South America. The Vatican noted that he has voted in Peruvian elections whenever eligible, reflecting a dual commitment to both nations.
Pope Leo XIV is seen as more measured than his predecessor, Pope Francis, on several political and social issues. However, he has been outspoken on matters such as immigration, describing United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as “inhuman.” He has also strongly criticized the use of religious rhetoric to justify war, contrasting sharply with remarks made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Tensions between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump have been publicly evident. In April, President Trump disparaged the pope on foreign policy and crime issues following the pontiff’s repeated calls for peace amid the conflict in Iran. Leo urged U.S. citizens to contact their congressional representatives to oppose war, underscoring his preference for diplomacy over military action.
The revelation of the pope’s mail-in voting came after confirmation from Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office, who confirmed that Robert Francis Prevost requested a ballot for the upcoming election cycle. This development adds a unique dimension to the 2026 midterms, highlighting the intersection of global religious leadership and American democratic participation.