# Pope Leo casts Illinois ballot as first pontiff to vote in US election

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-first-pontiff-to-vote-in-a-us-election/
- Published: 2026-10-30T16:10:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T16:21:49+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckwyq2509p7xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Americas, Elections, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Leo XIV is the first pope to vote in a US election.
- He cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois.
- The midterms will decide control of Congress.

## Summary

Pope Leo XIV has cast his mail-in ballot in Illinois for the US midterm elections, becoming the first pope to vote in a US election. The vote comes as his public disagreements with President Donald Trump continue, including over immigration and the US-Israel war with Iran.

The Holy See said Leo has voted whenever eligible, including while living in Peru. He requested his ballot from the Will County Clerk’s Office on 3 October; the election on 3 November will determine control of Congress during the final years of Trump’s presidency. The 71-year-old Pope is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in early November, following surgery to remove part of his right lung after a lung cancer diagnosis.

## Coverage

- [BBC World: Pope Leo casts Illinois ballot as first pontiff to vote in US election](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckwyq2509p7xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
- [The Hill: Leo XIV becomes first pope ever to vote in US general election](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6183683-pope-leo-xiv-votes-early-midterms-historical/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.