Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born leader of the Catholic Church, has cast his ballot in the United States midterm elections, submitting a mail-in vote in Chicago, the Vatican has confirmed.
The development is believed to mark the first known instance of a sitting pope participating in a political election.
The Vatican disclosed this in a statement on Friday, explaining that the pontiff exercised his voting rights as an American citizen in keeping with his long-standing commitment to civic participation.
The head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics believes in “the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Vatican said.
The statement added that the Chicago-born pontiff “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so”.
“The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago,” it added.
Leo’s participation comes amid a public disagreement with US President Donald Trump over several policy issues, particularly immigration and the war involving Iran.
The two leaders have repeatedly exchanged criticisms, with Trump previously describing the pope as “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy.
Leo, however, maintained that he was “not afraid” of the US president.
The US midterm elections are scheduled to take place on November 3, with voters expected to elect members of Congress and determine the balance of power in the legislature.
Before his election as pope, Robert Francis Prevost, as he was known, spent nearly two decades serving as a missionary and later bishop in Peru. He holds both American and Peruvian citizenship.
The Vatican also confirmed that the pontiff exercised his voting rights while living in Peru, whenever he was eligible to participate in elections.
