Pope Leo XIV votes by post in US midterm elections, first pope to do so

Pope Leo XIV, the supreme head of Catholics worldwide, has made history by voting in the US midterm elections. He is the first pope to vote in an American election. Though he lives in the Vatican, he has retained his US citizenship and cast his vote by post. His decision is now being discussed internationally.

Pope Leo XIV's real name is Robert Francis Prevost. He was born in Chicago in the United States. He has been living in the Vatican since he was elected pope in 2025. But he has not given up his American citizenship, so his right to vote in US elections still stands.

He is registered as a voter in Will County in the US state of Illinois. For the coming midterm elections, he applied on October 3 to vote by post. He then recorded his vote and sent the ballot paper to Chicago. The Vatican press office officially confirmed on October 30 that he had voted.

Pope Leo XIV has also made his position clear on citizens' participation in the democratic process. He said that voting is the right of every eligible citizen, and that taking part in the democratic process is also a responsibility. The Vatican said that when he lived in Peru, he likewise exercised his right in the elections in which he was eligible to vote.

The midterm elections in the US will be held on November 3, 2026. Votes will be cast for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, while 35 Senate seats will go to the polls. Gubernatorial elections are also due in 36 states. With Pope Leo XIV voting in such an important election, his participation has taken on historic significance.