Pope Francis casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis, as a US citizen, has “exercised his right to vote whenever he has had the opportunity,” and that he submitted his ballot by mail to Chicago.

“The Holy Father expresses his conviction regarding the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement added. This marks the first time it is publicly known and confirmed that a pontiff has cast a ballot in a US election, according to EFE.

Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Francis’ birth name, appears on the list of individuals who requested to vote by mail, as confirmed by Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County clerk’s office, in the *Chicago Sun-Times*.

The Pope, born in Chicago, submitted his mail-in ballot request from the Vatican on October 3, just one month before the election. Prevost is registered to vote in Illinois, with his address listed as his brother’s residence in New Lenox.

Records show Prevost has previously voted in the general elections of 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024, as well as the Republican primaries of 2012, 2014, and 2016, and the Democratic primaries of 2008 and 2010.

The Pope’s vote comes during a period where he has publicly disagreed with US President Donald Trump on issues such as immigration policies and the war in Iran. Pope Francis has openly criticized the US and Israel’s military offensive against Iran, initiated on February 28, asserting that no one can prevent him from continuing to voice his concerns. Trump has stated that Pope Francis “endangers many Catholics and many people” and that, if it were up to him, he would prefer Iran to not possess nuclear weapons.