Pope Leo votes in US midterms in first known political ballot for any pontiff
Pope Leo XIII, a U.S. citizen, became the first pontiff to cast a ballot in a national election when he mailed his vote for the 2024 U.S. mid‑term elections from Chicago. The act followed a history of public disagreements with former President Donald Trump. The Vatican has no formal role in U.S. politics, but the pope’s participation drew media attention worldwide.