Pope Leo makes history with US midterm vote

Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church's first US-born pontiff, has made history by participating in the United States midterm elections, marking the first known instance of a pope voting in a political election. As the head of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Leo faced a contentious relationship with US President Donald Trump, which was fueled by disagreements over immigration crackdowns and Iran's war.

Despite their differences, Leo affirmed the significance of citizens exercising their right to vote in democratic processes. The Chicago-born pontiff voted via mail-in ballot in Chicago, the Vatican announced on Friday. In April, following a heated exchange between Trump and Leo after the latter threatened Iran, the pontiff urged his followers to engage in peace efforts by contacting political leaders and urging them to reject war and violence.

During his tenure as Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo had previously voted in Democratic and Republican primaries in Illinois, illustrating his commitment to civic engagement. Born in Chicago and with dual US and Peruvian citizenship, Leo affirmed his voting rights during his time in Peru, aligning with the Catholic belief in active participation in democratic processes.