Pope Leo XIV Makes History as First Sitting Pontiff to Vote in US Election

Pope Leo XIV Makes History as First Sitting Pontiff to Vote in US Election

Pope Leo XIV has made history after becoming the first sitting pope known to have participated in a United States election.

The Vatican confirmed that the Chicago-born pontiff, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, submitted a mail-in ballot in his home state of Illinois ahead of the November midterm elections.

Despite serving as head of the Catholic Church in the Vatican, Leo XIV retains his American citizenship, allowing him to exercise his voting rights from abroad.

His participation marks an unprecedented moment in the history of the papacy, as no previous sitting pope is known to have voted in a US election.

The development has also drawn attention to the unique position of the first American-born pope, who continues to maintain his ties to the United States while leading the world’s Catholic community.