Pope Leo XIV made American political history by becoming the first sitting pope to vote in a U.S. general election.
The Vatican confirmed Friday that the 71-year-old Chicago native exercised his voting rights as an American citizen, submitting a mail-in ballot in Illinois ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Pope Leo was dedicated to ensuring his vote counted. He reportedly requested his ballot on October 3, just 10 days before undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
Vatican officials told the outlet that Pope Leo has consistently participated in U.S. elections when eligible, including the years he spent residing in Peru.
The U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops praised Pope Leo’s actions. “In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility,” spokesperson Chieko Noguchi said.
“The U.S. bishops have emphasized it’s not ‘who’ one is voting for, but rather on encouraging Catholics to inform their conscience as they prepare to vote and to uphold human dignity and the common good in doing so,” Noguchi added
Pope Leo publicly clashed with President Donald Trump over differences in perspective regarding immigration and war.
The Vatican stopped short of revealing who got the pope’s vote, but it’s been reported that he has participated in both Democratic and Republican primaries over the years.