Pope Leo XIV has made history by voting as a U.S. citizen, submitting his ballot by mail from Chicago. This act reflects his belief in the duty of citizens to engage in democratic processes.
According to reports, the pope exercised his voting rights and has sent his ballot in accordance with a long-standing tradition of civic involvement. He is registered as a voter in New Lenox, a suburb of Chicago, where his brother John resides.
As noted by CNN, this event likely makes Leo XIV the first pope to participate in U.S. elections and possibly the first pontiff to vote in any secular democratic elections.
Born in Chicago, Leo XIV has been active in voting, participating in both Republican and Democratic primaries, as well as the 2024 presidential elections.
Since his election to the papacy in May 2025, he has encouraged civic engagement, urging citizens to express their views on issues such as the ongoing U.S. and Israeli conflicts with Iran.
The pope has had previous confrontations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the war in Iran and its associated immigration policies. While Trump has openly criticized Leo XIV, he has recently softened his stance, suggesting that the pope’s brother, Ludwig, is a supporter of his administration.
In the context of the upcoming midterm elections on November 3, 2026, where all members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senators will be contested, tensions between the pope and the Trump’s administration are notable.
Previously, Leo XIV, the first U.S. pope in history, condemned Trump’s decision to engage in war with Iran, arguing it goes against the Catholic moral principles of “just war.” In response to the pontiff’s criticisms, Trump has remarked that Leo XIV would not have been selected as pope if he were not president, calling him “weak on crime and nuclear weapons.”
