Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV sent mail ballot for Illinois midterms

The Vatican confirmed on Oct. 30 that Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections. The pope, who was born in Chicago, remains a United States citizen while also holding citizenship in Peru. This makes him the first pope to cast a vote in a U.S. election.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office said the pope exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen whenever eligible. The office noted that this action follows a long-standing practice of civic participation. The statement specified that the mail-in ballot was submitted in Chicago.

Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressed the vote in an Oct. 30 statement. She said the pope sets an example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility. Noguchi added that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been encouraging Catholics to vote. The bishops have asked Catholics to place their faith before their politics and to uphold human dignity.

Local records show the pope requested a mail ballot on Oct. 3. Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County, Illinois, clerk's office, confirmed the request to the Chicago Sun-Times. Fladhammer identified the voter as Robert Francis Prevost, the pope's given name before his election. She stated that Prevost was on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the pope is registered at a New Lenox, Illinois, address. New Lenox is a suburban Chicago town where the pope's elder brother, John, lives. Voting records cited by the newspaper indicate that Prevost voted in several previous elections. These include the general elections of 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024. He also voted in the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014, and 2016, as well as the Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010.

Prevost did not vote in the state's March primary this year. The Sun-Times noted that Illinois voters do not have to register by party. Voters can choose which parties to appear on their primary ballot. Any registered voter in Illinois has the option to cast a ballot by mail.

As of Oct. 29, the county clerk's chief of staff told NBC News' Chicago affiliate that the pope's ballot had not yet been received. The Will County ballot includes races for the U.S. Senate and governor. It also includes several county and judicial posts.

In April, Pope Leo spoke to participants at a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He discussed authentic democracy as recognizing the dignity of every person. He said democracy calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good. The pope cited St. John Paul II, who affirmed that the Church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices.

Pope Leo quoted St. John Paul's 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus. The encyclical states that democracy offers people the possibility of electing and holding accountable those who govern them. It also allows for replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate. The pope added that democracy remains healthy only when rooted in the moral law and a true vision of the human person.