Leo XIV is the first Pope in history to vote in an election (excluding the Conclave).

Leo XIV is the first Pope in history to have voted in an election (excluding the Conclave, of course, and also elections within his religious order). The Chicago Sun-Times reported that on 3 October, the Pontiff had requested a postal ballot. His aim: to vote in the mid-term elections in his home state, Illinois, where he is still registered as a resident (in New Lenox, in the Chicago metropolitan area). The rumour was subsequently confirmed by the Vatican in an official statement: “Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a citizen of the United States whenever he has had the opportunity. The Holy See Press Office confirms that, in line with this established practice of civic participation, the Pope has sent his ballot paper by post to Chicago. The Holy Father has also confirmed that, during the years he resided in Peru, he exercised his right to vote whenever he had the opportunity. The Holy Father expresses his conviction regarding the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes”. Immediately, as was widely predictable, social media was abuzz with claims that the Vicar of Christ on earth belonged to one political camp or the other, both of which are already vying for his support. The Chicago Sun-Times noted that the future Pope voted in the Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010, whilst he took part in the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014 and 2016. In general elections, he voted in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2024. He did not vote in last March’s primaries. It remains to be seen how this news will be used by Donald Trump, who a few months ago expressed his dissatisfaction with Leo XIV, describing him as ‘weak’ and even ungrateful, given that he should have known that ‘it is thanks to me that he became Pope’.