Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in U.S. midterms, Vatican says
Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen born in Chicago, mailed in a ballot for the November 3 midterms, the Vatican said, and most outlets call him the first pope to vote in a U.S. election.
Pope Leo XIV has voted by mail in the U.S. midterm elections, the Vatican said on Friday. CBS News and The Guardian report the ballot went to Chicago, his birthplace. Al Jazeera reports it was submitted ahead of the November 3 election.
Fox News reports he requested the ballot from Vatican City to vote in Illinois. NBC News first reported that he had requested an absentee ballot and said it was unclear whether he had mailed it. Later reports, citing the Vatican, say he did.
ABC News, BBC News, CBS News, The Hill and PBS NewsHour call him the first pope to vote in a U.S. election. The Hill and PBS say general election. The Guardian says it is the first known case of a pope voting in any political election. Fox News says only that he is potentially the first.
Deutsche Welle reports that Leo did not say who he voted for. BBC News says the midterms will decide control of Congress.
The Guardian reports that Leo became the first American to lead the Catholic church last year, after Pope Francis died, and that he has clashed with President Donald Trump over several issues. BBC News calls their relationship tense. NBC News describes Leo as critical of the Trump administration.
Reported by
- NBC NewsPope Leo requested an absentee ballot in Illinois to vote in the midtermsThu, Oct 29, 9:44 PM EDT
- ABC NewsPope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US electionFri, Oct 30, 9:22 AM EDT
- CBS NewsPope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in a U.S. electionFri, Oct 30, 9:50 AM EDT
- Fox NewsPope Leo makes history in US election with move confirmed by VaticanFri, Oct 30, 10:45 AM EDT
- BBC NewsPope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US electionFri, Oct 30, 10:48 AM EDT
- The VergePope Leo calls for the disarmament of AI: ‘Machines are tools, not persons’Fri, Oct 30, 10:58 AM EDT
- The HillLeo XIV becomes first pope ever to vote in US general electionFri, Oct 30, 11:25 AM EDT
- The GuardianPope Leo votes in US midterms in first known political ballot for any pontiffFri, Oct 30, 12:01 PM EDT
- Deutsche WelleUS midterms: Pope Leo XIV casts vote by mailFri, Oct 30, 12:14 PM EDT
- PBS NewsHourLeo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a U.S. general electionFri, Oct 30, 12:53 PM EDT
- CBS NewsPope Leo becomes the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. electionFri, Oct 30, 2:44 PM EDT
- Al JazeeraPope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in US general electionFri, Oct 30, 9:31 PM EDT
- The New York TimesPope Leo XIV, the Tough Guy of High T ChristianitySun, Nov 1, 1:00 AM EST
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (9)
- Fri, Oct 30, 10:05 PM EDT, 11 outlets: Pope Leo XIV mails ballot for U.S. midterms, Vatican confirms
- Fri, Oct 30, 12:55 PM EDT, 10 outlets: Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in U.S. midterms, Vatican confirms
- Fri, Oct 30, 12:35 PM EDT, 9 outlets: Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in U.S. midterms, doesn't say for whom
- Fri, Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT, 8 outlets: Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in U.S. midterms, Vatican says
- Fri, Oct 30, 11:35 AM EDT, 7 outlets: Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in U.S. midterms, Vatican says
- Fri, Oct 30, 11:10 AM EDT, 6 outlets: Pope Leo XIV mailed ballot in U.S. midterms, Vatican says
- Fri, Oct 30, 10:50 AM EDT, 4 outlets: Vatican says Pope Leo mailed ballot in U.S. midterms, a first for a pope
- Fri, Oct 30, 9:50 AM EDT, 3 outlets: Vatican says Pope Leo submitted mail-in ballot in U.S. midterms
- Fri, Oct 30, 9:25 AM EDT, 2 outlets: Pope Leo XIV asked for Illinois absentee ballot for midterms; ABC says he voted