{
  "id": 17243877,
  "title": "Pope Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in U.S. election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-first-pope-to-vote-in-u-s-election",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:07:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Axios",
    "slug": "axios",
    "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/10/30/pope-leo-mail-in-ballot-midterms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV cast his ballot in the 2026 Illinois midterm elections, marking a historic first for a sitting pontiff, according to the Vatican. The mail-in ballot was requested earlier this year, and the Holy See confirmed the act of voting on Friday. The Holy See Press Office stated that the pope believed in the \"right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes.\" The Vatican also affirmed that the pontiff \"has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen\" whenever he was eligible, including during his time living in Peru. The ballot includes Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's reelection bid, a Senate race involving Dick Durbin, and a House contest between Democrats Jonathan Jackson and Republicans Christian Maxwell. Jackson, the son of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, secured his district's seat in 2024. The pontiff's votes have spanned both Democratic and Republican primaries over the past two decades. The Pope, currently recovering from lung cancer surgery, met with advocates supporting immigrants at an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, and has faced clashes with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance over issues like the Iran war and immigration treatment.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US general election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-has-become-the-first-pope-in-history-to-vote-in-a-us-17230881",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:02:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-has-become-the-first-pope-in-history-to-vote-in-a-us",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:22:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Fortune",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV becomes the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election — he’s requested GOP primary ballots 3 times and Democratic twice",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-the-first-pope-to-vote-in-a-u-s-general-election",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:42:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Pope Leo becomes first pope ever to vote in US election, submits mail-in ballot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-becomes-first-pope-ever-to-vote-in-us-election-submits-mail",
        "published": "2026-10-30T14:02:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Pope Leo becomes first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-becomes-first-pontiff-to-vote-in-a-u-s-election",
        "published": "2026-10-30T14:20:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-first-pontiff-to-vote-in-a-us-election-17244974",
        "published": "2026-10-30T15:10:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Leo XIV becomes first pope ever to vote in US general election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/leo-xiv-becomes-first-pope-ever-to-vote-in-us-general-election",
        "published": "2026-10-30T15:25:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV makes history as first sitting pontiff to vote in US elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-makes-history-as-first-sitting-pontiff-to-vote-in-us",
        "published": "2026-10-30T15:37:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "US midterms: Pope Leo XIV casts vote by mail",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/us-midterms-pope-leo-xiv-casts-vote-by-mail",
        "published": "2026-10-30T16:14:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a U.S. general election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/leo-xiv-has-become-the-first-pope-in-history-to-vote-in-a-u-s-general",
        "published": "2026-10-30T16:53:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-first-pontiff-to-vote-in-a-us-election-17261286",
        "published": "2026-10-30T17:02:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}