Pope Leo XIV Casts Mail Ballot in Historic US Midterm Vote

Pope Leo XIV's participation in the US midterms first emerged through reports about his voting arrangements. On October 30, Forbes reported that the first American pope had requested a mail-in ballot, raising the prospect of a sitting pontiff voting in a US election.

The vote also carries a political backdrop. The Independent reported that Leo had sparred with President Donald Trump earlier this year over the Iran war. Trump accused him of being "weak" and "endangering Catholics," according to that report.

The October 30 coverage described several stages of the process. The Independent reported that Leo had registered to vote and secured a mail-in ballot ahead of the midterms.

Forbes described the ballot request in prospective terms, saying Leo could become the first sitting pontiff to vote in a US election. That account stopped short of reporting a completed vote.

Confirmation of a completed vote came in other coverage the same day. ANSA.it reported that the Vatican said Leo had sent his ballot to Chicago, regarding voting as a democratic right and duty.

Infobae also reported that the Vatican press office confirmed the postal vote on Friday, October 30. Its report identified November 3 as the date of the midterm elections.

The story has moved beyond a ballot request: the Vatican says Leo has voted. ABC Top Stories reported that he has become the first pope in history to vote in a US election.

The supplied coverage does not identify his candidate choices. The Vatican's explanation, as reported by ANSA.it, frames his participation as the exercise of a democratic right and duty, rather than an announcement of support for a candidate.