Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history known to have voted in a US general election, voting by mail in Illinois ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pope had exercised his voting rights as a US citizen. Elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis, Leo XIV made history as the first American-born pope to lead the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, he also holds Peruvian citizenship after spending many years serving the church in the South American country. Due to his American background, Leo has increasingly emerged as a vocal critic of some policies pursued by President Donald Trump, particularly the administration's immigration pushback and foreign policy.

Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history known to have voted in a US general election, voting by mail in Illinois ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pope had exercised his voting rights as a US citizen. Elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis, Leo XIV made history as the first American-born pope to lead the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, he also holds Peruvian citizenship after spending many years serving the church in the South American country. Due to his American background, Leo has increasingly emerged as a vocal critic of some policies pursued by President Donald Trump, particularly the administration's immigration pushback and foreign policy.