Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in US election

Pope Leo XIV, the first United States citizen to serve as head of the Roman Catholic Church, has cast an absentee ballot in the 2026 midterm elections. The Holy See Press Office confirmed the action, stating that the pontiff exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen, a practice he previously maintained while residing in Peru. The Vatican noted that the Pope views participation in democratic processes as both a right and a civic duty.

Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, the 71-year-old pontiff has previously navigated public tensions with President Donald Trump, particularly regarding foreign policy and the war in Iran. While the President has criticized the Pope’s political stances, Leo XIV has maintained that his public statements are rooted in the Gospel rather than political ambition. This development follows recent health updates from the Vatican, which confirmed that the Pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following a minimally invasive surgery earlier this month.