Pope Leo XIV has cast his ballot in the 2026 United States midterm elections, becoming the first known sitting pope to participate in a US election, the Vatican has confirmed.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that the American-born pontiff had submitted his ballot by mail in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of the elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
According to the Vatican, the Pope exercised his right to vote as a US citizen, maintaining a longstanding practice of participating in democratic processes whenever eligible.
“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Vatican said in its statement.
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV retains his US citizenship despite becoming head of the Catholic Church in May 2025. He also holds Peruvian citizenship following years of missionary and pastoral service in the South American country.
The 2026 midterm elections will determine the composition of the US House of Representatives and part of the Senate, alongside gubernatorial contests and numerous state and local elections.
All 435 seats in the House are being contested, as well as 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships.
In Illinois, voters will choose a successor to retiring Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and decide whether Governor JB Pritzker should secure another term.
Although the Pope has previously participated in American elections, his vote while serving as pontiff is considered unprecedented. The Vatican did not disclose which candidates he supported.
Before his election as Pope, public voting records showed that Prevost had participated in several Democratic and Republican primary elections over the years. However, those records do not establish his personal political preferences.
His participation has drawn attention because of his position as a religious leader and head of the Vatican City State, as well as his public comments on political and social issues, including immigration, war and human dignity.
The development has also renewed discussion about the relationship between religious leadership, citizenship and civic responsibility.
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