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(RNS) — Pope Leo XIV has done his civic duty: He has voted from Rome in the U.S. midterm election, the Vatican announced, marking another first for the American pope.
“Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” reads the Friday (Oct. 30) announcement about the Chicago native. “The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this longstanding practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.”
The Holy See Press Office noted that when Leo lived in Peru, he also voted whenever he was eligible to mark a ballot.
“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in the democratic processes,” it added.
The action by the leader of the world’s Catholics was announced two and a half weeks after Leo underwent successful surgery for lung cancer. He was released from a Rome hospital on Oct. 17.
In a “Vote By Mail Report” of the county clerk’s office in Will County, Illinois, the name “Prevost, Robert F” is listed just below his brother’s (“Prevost, John J”) at an address in the southwest Chicago suburb of New Lenox, Illinois.
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Leo is described in Illinois records as “undeclared” for a political party. During the 2024 and 2020 general elections, in which he also voted absentee, he had the same affiliation, according to documents provided to Religion News Service.
When Leo voted in the general elections of 2018, 2014 and 2012, his affiliation also was listed as “undeclared.” But in the primary elections of 2016, 2014 and 2012, his affiliation was listed as Republican. For the elections listed from 2012 through 2018, he often voted early and at the voting location of the Village of New Lenox.
CBS News reported that Leo voted in the Democratic primary most recently in 2010. Illinois voters do not need to register with a political party to vote in a primary.
As is the case for other Illinois voters, Leo’s ballot included candidates for U.S. Senate and House and gubernatorial contests. Based on the listing on Ballotpedia, Leo also had the opportunity to vote for an East Joliet Sanitary District Trustee Board at-large seat as well as for candidates for county clerk, sheriff and treasurer, and as many as 16 county board members.
Christian Maxwell, the GOP candidate in Illinois’ 1st District, told RNS in a statement that she appreciated the pontiff’s execution of his duty. “I think it’s wonderful to see the Pope exercising his right to vote,’’ said Maxwell, who is running against incumbent Jonathan Jackson, son of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson. “And I’ll admit, there’s something exciting about knowing that his ballot could have included my name in this election.”
Added Maxwell: “Of course, his vote is private, and I would never presume to know whom he supported. But it’s a fascinating reminder that every voter, regardless of their position or prominence, has a voice in our democracy.”
Jackson also voiced his admiration for Leo in taking the time to vote.
“I’m deeply grateful to him for that, and for the example it sets for every voter in our district,” Jackson said. “How he voted is his own, as it is for every voter, but I can say with real admiration and humility that I’m honored to count him as a constituent. The South Side and the south suburbs have always produced people of faith and purpose, and it fills me with pride that the first American pope still calls the 1st District home.”
Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described Leo as a role model for others during the election season.
“In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility,” Noguchi said in a statement. “The U.S. bishops have emphasized that (it) is not “who” one is voting for, but rather on encouraging Catholics to inform their conscience as they prepare to vote and to uphold human dignity and the common good in doing so.”
Steven P. Millies, professor of public theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, said Leo’s action demonstrates a sense of “duty” born out of Catholic social teaching.
“As has always been the case, the binary choices in U.S. politics do not correspond well at all to Catholic social teaching,” Millies, chairman of The Bernardin Center at CTU, told RNS via email. “I think Leo would agree, for Catholics, the choice is between bad and slightly less bad. But the choice is one we can make.”
The Rev. Mark Francis, Leo’s former classmate and longtime friend, did hazard a guess as to Leo’s ballot choices, although he noted he had no firsthand information.
“I really would not have much to tell you about the Pope’s politics, since I have not spoke(n) with him about this since we were Superiors General together in Rome in the 2000s,” Francis told RNS via email. “I think you can infer from his constant reiteration of Catholic Social teaching that he would not be voting straight Republican.”
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