American pope casts mail-in ballot in U.S. midterm election

Pope Leo XIV has voted in the November 2026 U.S. midterm elections, becoming the first pope to cast a ballot in an American election. He requested a mail-in ballot from Illinois on October 3 and was registered at an address in New Lenox. The Vatican confirmed the vote on October 30, saying the pope has always believed in the importance of civic participation. Leo XIV was born in Chicago and became the first American pope when he was elected in May 2025. Before becoming pope, he voted in U.S. primary elections as Cardinal Robert Prevost, choosing both Democratic and Republican ballots at different times. He is currently recovering from lung cancer surgery.