Pope Leo XIV votes by post in US midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pontiff. He cast his mail-in ballot in the US midterms from the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV is 71. He was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago.
He voted by post in Tuesday's US midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed this on Friday.
The Pope applied for a Chicago postal ballot in early October. He has voted in US general elections since 2012.
He also voted in Republican and Democratic primaries during his years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. He holds citizenship there.
The Vatican said he has always used his right to vote as a US citizen when allowed. An official statement added: "The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."
The 2026 midterms contest all House seats and about one third of Senate seats.
- 71
- Pope's age
- 7500 kilometres
- Distance from Vatican
- Chicago, Illinois
- Birthplace
- 2012, 2014, 2018, 2024
- Elections voted in since becoming pope
Why it mattersIt shows the Pope cares about his home country's democracy. This is true even as the leader of a sovereign state. There are tensions with US President Donald Trump. These concern Iran policy and immigration.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect, though the story highlights the global reach of US midterm politics and the Pope's continued US civic involvement.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
