January 1, American Pope Casts Mail Ballot in Illinois Election

Wyatt’s Take

• American-born Pope Leo XIV just cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois, making history as the first pope ever to vote in a U.S. election.
• The Vatican confirmed the pontiff exercised his right as a U.S. citizen to participate in the democratic process, following his recent lung cancer surgery and recovery.
• While Democrats push ballot changes and overseas voting rules, this story highlights how traditional civic duty still matters to everyday Americans and their leaders.

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.”

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.

“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.”

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.

Wyatt Matters

Faith, family, and duty still guide the heart of this country. When a man raised in our heartland rises to lead the Catholic Church and still shows up to vote like any other citizen, it reminds working Americans that real leadership begins at home and in the ballot box.