BBC NewsYesterday·3 min read·medium

Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US election

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Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a US election, casting a mail-in ballot in Illinois. The event occurs amidst ongoing political tensions between the Pope and the Trump administration regarding foreign policy and immigration.

Why it matters

This unprecedented action by a religious leader highlights the intersection of faith, citizenship, and political polarization in the US.

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Image source, Getty Images By Brandon Drenon Published 12 minutes ago Pope Leo XIV has submitted his mail-in ballot in Illinois, for the midterm elections, becoming the first-ever pope to vote in a US election.

"The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.

The Chicago-born pontiff is the first US citizen to hold the Vatican's highest seat, after his selection in May 2025.

Since then, he has clashed with the Trump administration over various issues, including immigration enforcement and the US-Israel war with Iran.

"Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so," the press office said, including during his years in Peru.

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Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail Ballot in United States Midterms

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