Government leaders
Holy mail-in ballot: Pope Leo just made U.S. election history
Pope Leo XIV voted in the 2026 Illinois midterm elections using a mail-in ballot, the Vatican confirmed Friday, becoming the first sitting pope known to vote in an American election.Why it matters: The pontiff, an American citizen, may be the first to vote in any secular democratic election.Joliet radio station WJOL first reported Oct. 23 that Leo had requested a mail-in ballot.What they're saying: The pope believes "in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement.The Vatican said Leo "has exercised his right to vote