Pope Leo Becomes 1st Pontiff To Vote In U.S. Election

NEW LENOX, IL — Pope Leo XIV is the first pope to ever vote in a U.S. election — and he reportedly cast his mail-in ballot in the Chicago suburbs, not far from his Dolton hometown.

The Vatican on Friday confirmed that the pontiff, formerly Robert Prevost, has voted in the midterm elections.

Pope Leo "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so," the Holy See's press office said.

The press office confirmed that, "in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago."

According to multiple news outlets, Pope Leo had requested a mail-in ballot in Will County and is registered to vote at an address in New Lenox.

It's not the first time Pope Leo has voted in U.S. elections despite living abroad, the Holy See's press office said in a statement, although his previous votes occurred before he became the pontiff.

"The Holy Father has also confirmed that, during his years of residence in Peru, he exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible to do so," it said, adding that Leo "expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes."

Although Illinois State Board of Elections records don't show who he voted for, they do reflect that since 2000, Pope Leo voted in five primary elections, taking Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to ABC Chicago.

In recent years, he has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, notably the war in Iran.

After President Donald Trump threatened via social media that a "whole civilization will die," Leo appeared to respond with a tweet of his own, saying, "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs."

Despite the Pentagon denying a clash between the president and the pope, Trump lashed out, calling Pope Leo "weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy" and "OK" with Iran having a nuclear weapon, among other things.

The pontiff responded by telling reporters he's "not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for."

Earlier this week, Pope Leo also met with activists who have supported migrants at Chicago ICE detention centers. Members of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, which has worked to help immigrants facing uncertainty and detainees at the Broadview ICE detention facility, met with the pope in St. Peter's Square.

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