Pope Leo XIV casts a mail-in ballot in Illinois, becoming the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election

What happened

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, according to PBS NewsHour and CBS News. The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pontiff, formerly Robert Prevost, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The Holy See press office said Leo "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen" whenever he was eligible. The Vatican statement added that the pope believes in "the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."

How the pope cast his ballot

A request through Will County

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the vote. It quoted the chief of staff at the Will County clerk's office as saying the pope, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3. The Will County Clerk's Office confirmed to CBS News that he is on the list of voters who requested a mail-in ballot.

PBS NewsHour reported that it is unclear how Leo returned the ballot. His older brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week with parishioners from St. Jude's, a parish in New Lenox, Illinois.

Timing around his surgery

The ballot request came 10 days before Leo had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung, PBS NewsHour reported. He was released from the hospital Oct. 17 and has been resuming his activities at the Vatican. CBS News reported he is moving ahead with plans for a trip to South America next month.

His voting record and citizenship

Primary and general elections

Illinois State Board of Elections records show Prevost has voted in five primary elections since 2000, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to the Associated Press report carried by PBS NewsHour. That report said he requested Democratic ballots in 2008 and 2010 while registered in Cook County, then Republican ballots in 2012, 2014 and 2016 after moving to Will County. The records do not show which candidates he supported.

The records also show he submitted ballots in every general election since 2000 except 2020 and 2022, according to both outlets. Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot, but not in general elections.

Dual citizenship and foreign office

Leo holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, and the Vatican said he also voted in Peru whenever he was eligible. He is also head of state of the Holy See, which PBS NewsHour described as an absolute monarchy with no political elections. U.S. federal law allows citizens living abroad, including those working for foreign governments, to vote by absentee ballot, the outlet reported.

Reaction and political context

Catholic bishops respond

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged Catholics to put faith before politics. "In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility," said Chieko Noguchi, the conference's director of public affairs, according to PBS NewsHour.

Tension with the Trump administration

PBS NewsHour reported that Leo has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump for condemning the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and calling for dignified treatment of immigrants. Earlier this year, Trump called Leo "weak," and the two have not spoken by phone since the pope's May 2025 election. Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Richard Paul Gallagher said the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, has served as a capable conduit.

In Illinois, voters are deciding whether to give Gov. JB Pritzker a third term and are filling an open U.S. Senate seat after Dick Durbin's retirement. Trump is not on the ballot but has campaigned to keep Republican control of the House and Senate, PBS NewsHour reported. More national coverage is on our Nation page.

What to watch next

• The Nov. 3 midterm elections, including the Illinois governor's race and the open U.S. Senate seat.
• How the pope returned his ballot, which PBS NewsHour reported is still unclear.
• Leo's planned trip to South America next month, as he continues recovering from lung surgery.