Pope Leo XIV has cast his ballot in the upcoming U.S. elections, marking a historic first for a reigning pontiff to participate in a democratic, secular election. The Vatican confirmed the development in a statement released Friday, noting that the American-born pontiff exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen.
According to the Vatican announcement, Pope Leo XIV “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so.” The statement added that, “in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.” The Vatican further noted that the pontiff also routinely exercised his right to vote during his years of residence in Peru whenever eligible, reflecting his belief in the fundamental duty of citizens to engage in democratic processes.
Historians confirm the unprecedented nature of the act. Michael Walsh, a British historian and author who has written extensively on the papacy, stated that Leo is the first pope in history to cast a ballot in a democratic election. “I don’t think popes have ever voted in a democratic election before,” Walsh observed.
Public registration records indicate that the pope is registered under his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost. He casts his ballot in New Lenox, a Chicago suburb where his brother, John, resides. Voting records show that he has previously participated in both Republican and Democratic primary contests, as well as the 2024 presidential election.
The pontiff’s engagement with American political figures includes a November 2025 meeting at the Vatican with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. During their discussions, the two leaders touched upon immigration enforcement, though the pope expressed his disapproval of state legislation regarding medically assisted death that Pritzker had signed into law. Previously, in 2011, he communicated with then-Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to express his gratitude for the state’s abolition of the death penalty.
