Pope Leo submitted a mail-in ballot for the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, according to an announcement from the Vatican on Friday. The pontiff, who was born in the United States and previously served as a missionary in Peru, requested the ballot on October 3 and registered at an address in Illinois. This marks the first documented occasion of a sitting pope casting a ballot in a political election.
The Vatican characterized Leo’s voting as an exercise of his rights as a US citizen and stated that he holds “the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.” The pope has maintained US citizenship throughout his life, including during his years abroad, and has previously voted when eligible.
Leo and President Trump have experienced significant disagreement on multiple policy matters. The pontiff has characterized Trump’s immigration policies as “inhuman” and criticized the US-Israeli military actions regarding Iran. Trump responded by calling Leo “weak on crime” and “terrible on foreign policy,” and claimed the pope was elected solely because Trump occupied the White House. Leo responded by stating he was “not afraid” of the president. In a major address related to the Declaration of Independence anniversary, Leo emphasized the nation’s historical role in welcoming migrants while encouraging Americans to uphold the document’s ideals.
The pontiff has expressed affection for the United States and its foundational principles of freedom, opportunity, and immigrant acceptance, though he qualified this by noting he “happens to be American.” A visit to Latin America is planned for November. Vatican officials indicated that a papal trip to the United States is anticipated in the “not too distant future,” with the election results potentially affecting whether such a visit occurs next year or at a later date.
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