Pope Leo makes history by voting in US midterms as first sitting pontiff to do so

WASHINGTON,DC: Pope Leo XIV has has made history by voting in the US midterm elections, becoming the first sitting pontiff known to have participated in a political election.

The Chicago-born pope sent in a mail-in ballot ahead of the November 3 polls, with the Vatican confirming on Friday, October 30, that he had exercised his rights as an American citizen.

The announcement places Leo in an unusual position: while he leads the Catholic Church from the Vatican, he remains eligible to vote in US elections.

The Holy See Press Office said he had continued to vote whenever he was entitled to do so, including during his years living in Peru.

Pope Leo votes in midterms

Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, reportedly requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. His voter registration is linked to an address in New Lenox, Illinois, southwest of Chicago.

The request came just 10 days before the pontiff underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung.

He was discharged from hospital on October 17 and has since been gradually returning to his public schedule.

The Vatican did not disclose which candidates or parties received his vote.

In its statement, the Holy See emphasized that Leo had also voted during his time in Peru, where he spent years serving as a missionary and later as a bishop.

He holds Peruvian citizenship in addition to his American nationality.

The Vatican described participation in elections as both a right and a responsibility, saying the pope believed citizens should take part in democratic processes.

Leo's ballot will be cast in an election that could reshape the balance of power in Washington.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are being contested, along with 35 Senate seats.

Leo was elected in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis, becoming the first US-born leader of the Catholic Church.

His decision to retain and exercise his American voting rights is particularly notable given the demands of his position as head of the Vatican.

His predecessor, Francis, retained Argentine citizenship after becoming pope, but there is no known record of him voting in a US election while serving as pontiff.

Leo's vote is therefore being described as a first for a sitting pope, even as he continues to speak out on political questions without endorsing candidates or parties.

Pope Leo's past clashes with Trump

Leo’s decision to vote comes against the backdrop of a growing rift with President Donald Trump, whose positions on immigration and the war in Iran have drawn repeated criticism from the pontiff.

What began as disagreements over policy escalated into a rare public clash between the US president and the Vatican.

Leo has questioned the treatment of migrants in the United States, urging Americans to look closely at the experiences of people entering the country.

He has also spoken out against immigration enforcement measures he considers inhumane.

Trump escalated the dispute in April with a direct rebuke, branding Leo “terrible for Foreign Policy” and “weak on crime”.

His attack came after the pope challenged the US position on the war in Iran and called for the conflict to end.

Leo showed little willingness to retreat. Responding to the criticism, he said he was “not afraid” of the Trump administration and would continue speaking out on matters connected to the Catholic Church's teachings.