Facts
- Pope Leo XIV has voted in the U.S. midterm elections, becoming the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, the Associated Press reported via PBS NewsHour. The Vatican confirmed the vote on Friday, October 30, 2026. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported it.
- He submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of the November 3 election, according to the AP. Robert Prevost, as Leo XIV was known before his election as pope, is registered at an address in New Lenox, in Will County, Illinois. The Sun-Times, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office, reported that he requested the ballot on October 3.
- The Holy See press office said he ‘has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen.’ It added that he has voted ‘whenever he was eligible to do so,’ including while living in Peru. It added: ‘The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.’
- He holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. He is also head of state of the Holy See, an absolute monarchy with no political elections.
- The reports do not say how he voted, and none of the sources in this report indicated that the Vatican disclosed his choices.
Source Read the Associated Press report on PBS NewsHour here.
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