Vatican Confirms Pope Leo XIV Casts Ballot in Chicago

The Vatican confirmed Friday that Pope Leo XIV voted in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

This action makes the Chicago-born pontiff the first pope in history to cast a ballot in a general election. The Holy See press office stated that Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen whenever he was eligible. Officials noted that he also voted while residing in Peru. The statement emphasized the pope’s belief that citizens have both the right and the duty to participate in democratic processes.

Reports initially surfaced in local media, citing the chief of staff at the Will County clerk’s office. The official said Prevost, who is registered at a New Lenox address, requested a mail-in ballot on October 3. It remains unclear how the ballot was returned to the clerk. His brother, John Prevost, was in Rome this week with a group of parishioners from St. Jude’s, an Augustinian parish in New Lenox where Leo attended Mass and spoke in 2024.

Illinois State Board of Elections records provide a detailed history of Prevost’s voting behavior since 2000. He voted in five primary elections, requesting Democratic ballots twice and Republican ballots three times. In general elections, he submitted ballots in every cycle since 2000 except for 2020 and 2022. The records do not indicate which specific candidates he supported. Illinois voters must declare a party preference to receive a primary ballot, a requirement that does not apply to general elections.

Prevost’s party alignment shifted as he moved within Illinois. While registered in Cook County, a heavily Democratic area, he requested Democratic primary ballots in 2008 and 2010. After relocating to Will County, a more conservative suburban area, he requested Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016. This pattern reflects his long-term residency and registration in different parts of the state.

The confirmation from the Vatican serves to document the pontiff’s civic engagement. The vote was cast ahead of the November elections. The Holy See’s announcement aligns with the records maintained by state election officials. No other details regarding the specific candidates or issues influencing his vote were released by the Vatican or local election authorities.