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Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in the history of the Catholic Church to cast a ballot in a United States election. The Holy See confirmed on October 30 that the pope submitted a mail-in ballot to Chicago for the 2026 midterm elections.

The Holy See Press Office stated that the pope, Robert Francis Prevost, exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen. The Vatican noted that the pope has a long-standing practice of civic participation, including voting during his years of residence in Peru. The Holy See added that the pope believes in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement noting that the pope's action encourages citizens to exercise their civic responsibility. Spokesperson Chieko Noguchi said the bishops encourage Catholics to inform their consciences and uphold human dignity and the common good when voting.

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States and holds both American and Peruvian citizenship. Records from the Will County Clerk's office in Illinois list him as Robert F. Prevost with an undeclared political party affiliation.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

7 sources16 reports4 languages

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 8:32 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as new apostolic visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  4. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI must not decide on human life
  5. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  6. Oct 31, 7:54 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of Dicastery for Communication
  7. Oct 31, 7:42 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrimage
  8. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  9. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  10. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  11. Oct 31, 7:22 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  13. Oct 31, 6:18 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV receives representatives of Italian municipalities hit by earthquake
  14. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  15. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  16. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  17. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  18. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  19. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  20. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  21. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  22. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
  23. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to live without fear
  24. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Bishop of Soissons
  25. Oct 31, 3:30 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections

Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV casts absentee US ballot

Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US election

Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Pope Leo XIV casts absentee US vote from Rome

Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Pope Leo XIV votes in US election

Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Pope Leo XIV votes in US midterm elections

Earlier version, Friday 30 October

Pope Leo XIV votes in 2026 US midterm election

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 30, 5:55 AM Vatican News Español El Papa ejerció su derecho al voto como ciudadano de los Estados Unidos
  2. Oct 30, 5:55 AM ACI Stampa Italiano Papa Leone XIV ha inviato la propria scheda elettorale per posta a Chicago
  3. Oct 30, 7:45 AM CBCP News Pope Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in an American election
  4. Oct 30, 6:18 AM Catholic News Agency Pope Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in an American election
  5. Oct 30, 8:53 AM Exaudi Español «Votar es un derecho y un deber»: León XIV ejerce su sufragio por correo como ciudadano de EE. UU.
  6. Oct 30, 10:04 AM CatholicPhilly USCCB Statement on Pope Leo XIV Voting in Midterm Elections in USA
  7. Oct 30, 9:09 AM Rome Reports Is Pope Leo XIV, a “Democratic” Pope? He Sends His Vote in the U.S. Election from the Vatican
  8. Oct 30, 11:03 AM Angelus News Leo, the first pope to cast a ballot in a US election, sets example for voters to do their duty
  9. Oct 30, 3:50 AM ACI Digital Português Leão XIV torna-se o primeiro papa a votar em uma eleição nos EUA
  10. Oct 30, 6:42 AM ACI Prensa Español León XIV se convierte en el primer Papa en votar en unas elecciones de EE.UU.
  11. Oct 30, 1:30 AM USCCB News USCCB Statement on Pope Leo XIV Voting in Midterm Elections in USA
  12. Oct 30, 7:45 AM Religión en Libertad Español El Papa León XIV vota por correo en las elecciones de EE.UU. y marca un precedente histórico
  13. Oct 30, 2:48 PM Religion News Service In another historic move, Pope Leo casts absentee US vote from Rome
  14. Oct 30, 8:24 AM Aleteia Español León XIV, el primer Papa en votar por correo
  15. Oct 30, 1:18 PM ACI Africa Pope Leo XIV Becomes First Pope to Vote in an American Election
  16. Oct 31, 3:10 AM Catholic World News Pope Leo votes in US midterm elections; USCCB issues statement (CWN)

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 8:32 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as new apostolic visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  4. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI must not decide on human life
  5. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  6. Oct 31, 7:54 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of Dicastery for Communication
  7. Oct 31, 7:42 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrimage
  8. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  9. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  10. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  11. Oct 31, 7:22 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  13. Oct 31, 6:18 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV receives representatives of Italian municipalities hit by earthquake
  14. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  15. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  16. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  17. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  18. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  19. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  20. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  21. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  22. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
  23. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to live without fear
  24. Oct 31, 4:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Bishop of Soissons
  25. Oct 31, 3:30 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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