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American-born Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope ever to vote in a U.S. election.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed to Fox News Digital on Friday that Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost and the first American-born pope in the Catholic Church’s more than 2,000-year history, submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois.
“Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” the Holy See Press Office said. “The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.”
“The Holy Father has also confirmed that, during his years of residence in Peru he exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible to do so,” the press office added. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.”
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Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing after praying the Angelus, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, a day after he returned from the hospital, where he had lung cancer removed on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Will County clerk’s office told the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday that Leo requested a mail-in ballot on Oct. 3, while the Vatican separately confirmed that the pontiff had submitted his ballot.
“Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election,” Kim Fladhammer, Will County clerk’s office chief of staff, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Among the races on Illinois’ ballot is the contest for governor, where incumbent Democrat J.B. Pritzker is seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett.
The Will County clerk’s office and Pritzker’s campaign each did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Pope Leo leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)
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“There is no such thing as an absentee ballot in Illinois law anymore. So anyone can vote by mail if they so choose. There is also a law called UOCAVA, The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act that is mostly for the military, but it’s also for U.S. citizens who are overseas,” Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich told the Chicago Sun-Times. “… Any Illinois registered voter can vote by mail.”
“Until 2010, it was considered absentee, and you had to have an excuse,” Dietrich added. “But that’s all gone away. So that’s obviously what he’s doing.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at the office of The Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund on March 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Pritzker spoke about his views of President Donald Trump’s administration so far. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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The Vatican announced on Oct. 13 that Leo underwent a procedure at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome to remove a small tumor on his right lung. Leo’s doctors later confirmed on Oct. 21 that no further cancer treatment is necessary after the pontiff’s lung tumor was removed.
