Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail-In Ballot in U.S. Midterm Elections, Vatican Says

The Holy See characterized participation in democratic processes as a right and civic duty of citizens. That framing accompanied the Vatican’s confirmation that Leo had voted by mail in the election, although the supplied reports do not establish the precise date on which he submitted the ballot.

The South China Morning Post reported that the ballot was submitted in Chicago. The same report said the Holy See press office viewed Leo as exercising his voting right as a U.S. citizen whenever he was eligible to do so.

Several outlets described the episode as historic, reporting that Leo XIV was the first sitting pope, or the first pope, to vote in a U.S. election. That characterization remains attributed to those reports rather than independently documented in the supplied evidence.

The reports differ in how they describe the voting process. Forbes Business referred to Leo’s request for a mail-in ballot, while ANSA, EL PAÍS, Clarín, the South China Morning Post and Euronews described the ballot as submitted, sent or cast. The evidence supports the completed-submission account confirmed by the Vatican, but the variation is retained in the reporting record.

The election will determine the make-up of Congress, according to Euronews, while the Vatican’s explanation focused on civic participation rather than a candidate or party preference. The supplied material does not identify how Leo voted or establish the exact date of the submission.