Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in US general election

( NewsNation ) — Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, casting a mail-in ballot , the Vatican confirmed Friday.

The Vatican said the Chicago-born pontiff submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of next Tuesday's midterm elections, citing his long-standing belief in civic participation.

Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen" and has done so "whenever he was eligible to do so," the Holy See press office said.

The statement said he also voted while living in Peru whenever he was eligible. Leo lived in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop for over 20 years.

Leo holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, and is also the head of state of a foreign country, the Holy See. The city-state is an absolute monarchy with no political elections.

Pope Leo requested midterm mail-in ballot before his surgery

Leo's vote was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times , which quoted the chief of staff at the Will County clerk's office as saying the pope, registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3.

The request was made just 10 days before Leo underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. He has slowly resumed his activities at the Vatican after being released from the hospital earlier this month.

It is unclear how Leo returned the ballot. Since 2000, Robert Prevost has voted in five primary elections, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times, according to records held by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The records do not show which candidates he supported. Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot. No such declaration is required in general elections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.