Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail Ballot in Illinois Midterms
The Vatican confirmed the pontiff voted in his first U.S. election, a move aligned with his dual citizenship and previous voting history in the state.
By Sarah Reynolds ·
Pope Leo XIV submitted a mail-in ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, making him the first pope to vote in a United States election. The Vatican press office confirmed the action in a statement released on October 30. The pontiff, who retains his U.S. citizenship alongside his Peruvian citizenship, exercised his civic right in Chicago.
The Vatican stated that the pope has voted whenever eligible, a practice consistent with his years of residence in Peru. The Holy See emphasized the pope's belief in the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the vote sets an example for other citizens to exercise their civic responsibilities.
Local records show the pope requested his ballot on October 3. Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk’s office, confirmed that Robert Francis Prevost, the pope’s name before his election, was on the list of individuals who requested a mail ballot. Prevost is registered at an address in New Lenox, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago where his brother John resides.
Voting records indicate Prevost has participated in numerous Illinois elections over the last two decades. He voted in the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014, and 2016. He also cast ballots in the Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010. His general election votes include the cycles of 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024. He did not vote in the state’s March primary this year. Illinois law allows voters to choose their party affiliation for each primary ballot without mandatory registration to a single party.
As of October 29, the Will County clerk’s office had not yet received the returned ballot. The Will County ballot includes races for the U.S. Senate and the governor’s office, as well as several county and judicial positions. The November election will determine the next term for these state and federal seats.
The pope’s participation aligns with his public teachings on the role of faith in governance. In April, he addressed participants at a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He described authentic democracy as a system that recognizes the dignity of every person and calls for responsible participation in the common good.
He cited St. John Paul II, who affirmed that the Church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices. Quoting the 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus, the pope noted that democracy allows people to elect, hold accountable, and replace leaders through peaceful means. He added that democracy remains healthy only when rooted in moral law and a true vision of the human person.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has encouraged Catholics to vote with their faith before their politics. Noguchi stated that the bishops have urged Catholics to inform their consciences and uphold human dignity and the common good. The midterm elections in Illinois and other states will take place in the coming weeks, with results expected to shape the state’s legislative and executive leadership.
Source: The Catholic Spirit
