USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 12 May 2025Vatican Confirms Pope Leo XIV Voted By Mail In U.S. Midterm Elections In Chicago
“The clerk’s office told NBC News it has not yet received a completed ballot from the pope,”
“in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.”
Photo: Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterm elections. Vatican confirms he voted as a U.S. citizen, exercising the right when eligible.
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Vatican confirms mail vote
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV voted in the United States midterm elections, stating, “Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” and adding that he submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago. Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to vote in a US election after the Holy See Press Office said he had submitted his mail-in ballot in Illinois for the midterm elections. The Vatican also confirmed that the pope voted “during his years of residence in Peru,” and the BBC said the Holy See Press Office included that detail in its explanation.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that “Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV is still a registered voter in Illinois and requested a mail ballot for the midterm elections,” and the Will County clerk’s office chief of staff Kim Fladhammer was cited as saying Robert Francis Prevost requested a mail ballot. The midterm elections will be held nationwide on 3 November, with early voting already underway in most states.
Trump clash and civic duty
Pope Leo XIV expressed the Holy See Press Office view that “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” as the Vatican confirmed his mail-in vote. Donald Trump told reporters, “I don't think he's doing a very good job,” and he added, “I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo,” after tensions escalated between the pope and the Trump administration. Pope Leo XIV responded by saying, “The mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel, to preach peace,” and the BBC said he followed with remarks that he hoped to be listened to for “the value of God's words.”
The midterm elections will determine which political party controls Congress and have a significant impact on the final years of Donald Trump's presidency. Republican and Democratic officials were “sprinting across the country” in the final days before the midterms to boost their party’s chances.
Ballot request, Illinois races
NBC News said Pope Leo XIV requested a mail ballot on Oct. 3, and the Will County Clerk’s Office chief of staff Kim Fladhammer confirmed that request to NBC News.
NBC News reported that the clerk’s office told it it “has not yet received a completed ballot from the pope,” and NBC News said the ballot’s journey would take it from Vatican City to Joliet, Illinois.
CNN said the pope is registered under his baptismal name, Robert Francis Prevost, to vote in the Chicago suburb of New Lenox, where his brother John lives.
CNN said the pope’s ballot was expected to include votes for the senate and governor race in Illinois, along with house of representative, state and county elections.
The CBC report said the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops praised the decision, with spokesperson Chieko Noguchi saying, “In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility.”