Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US elections

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 17:51 · Archive

Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pontiff, cast a postal ballot in the US midterm elections.

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election, casting a ballot for the midterms by mail. The 71-year-old, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, voted from more than 7500 kilometres away by post in advance, the Vatican confirmed on Friday. It remains unclear for whom he voted ahead of the elections on Tuesday.

Leo applied for a Chicago postal vote in early October. According to US media reports, he voted in the US general elections of 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024, as well as in Republican primaries of 2012, 2014 and 2016 and Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010. Through his time as a bishop in Peru, he also holds Peruvian citizenship.

A Vatican spokesman said the Pope had always exercised his right to vote as a US citizen whenever entitled to, including during his years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. An official statement added: 'The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.' The midterm elections on Tuesday will see all seats in the House of Representatives and about one third of the Senate contested, with President Donald Trump's Republicans seeking to defend their narrow majorities against a challenge from the Democrats.

How it is being reported

• Pope Leo votes by mail in US midterm electionsPope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election, casting a ballot for the midterms by mail.Perth Now · 30 Oct, 17:24
• Pope Leo votes by mail in US midterm electionsPope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election, casting a ballot for the midterms by mail.The West Australian · 30 Oct, 17:24

In this story: Pope Leo XIV · Robert Francis Prevost · Chicago · Peru · Vatican · Democratic Party · Republican Party · Donald Trump

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log