Pope Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in a U.S. election
Pope Leo XIV has become the first sitting pope to vote in a U.S. general election, the Vatican confirmed Friday. The Chicago-born pontiff submitted a mail-in ballot ahead of Tuesday's midterms after requesting it Oct. 3, 10 days before surgery for lung cancer.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →What the Vatican said
Pope Leo XIV has become the first sitting pope to vote in a U.S. general election, The Guardian, Straight Arrow News, Firstpost and The Daily Caller reported. The Vatican confirmed he exercised his right to vote as a U.S. citizen and said citizens have a right and duty to participate in democratic processes, according to The Guardian and Straight Arrow News.
The Chicago-born pontiff, registered in New Lenox, Illinois, requested a mail-in ballot Oct. 3 and submitted it ahead of Tuesday's midterms, Firstpost and The Daily Caller reported. The Guardian said he is the first sitting pontiff known to have cast a ballot in any political election.
The backdrop
Straight Arrow News noted Leo is the first American pope as well as the first pope to vote in a U.S. election. The Daily Caller reported a U.S. bishops' conference spokesperson said the vote sets an example of civic responsibility. The Vatican has emphasized the ballot reflects civic duty rather than a party endorsement, according to The Guardian.
Why it matters
The vote makes a first in the papacy's history days before the midterms, from a pontiff who has publicly disagreed with the president on immigration and foreign policy while framing the ballot as civic duty.