{
  "id": 17252314,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T16:14:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/us-midterms-pope-leo-xiv-casts-vote-by-mail/a-79810339?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV, a 71-year-old US citizen born in Chicago, has cast his ballot in this year's midterms by mail, making history as the first pontiff to do so. The Holy See's press office confirmed the news on Friday. The pontiff applied for a postal ballot on October 3, according to US media reports. Records show that Pope Leo has voted in every general election since 2000, excluding 2020 and 2022, as well as five primary elections. He also held Peruvian citizenship during his time as a bishop in Peru and voted whenever eligible while living in South America. The Holy Father emphasizes the importance of citizens participating in democratic processes. As the United States prepares to vote in the midterm elections, all House of Representatives seats and about one-third of Senate positions are up for grabs. Illinois voters are deciding whether to re-elect Governor JB Pritzker for a third term and fill a vacant Senate seat following the retirement of Catholic Democrat Dick Durbin. The Pope's voting history and political beliefs have put him at odds with US President Donald Trump and his administration, with the pontiff criticizing Trump on several issues.",
  "summary": "As a US citizen, Pope Leo XIV is eligible to vote in US elections and has made use of that right with a postal ballot ahead of Tuesday's midterms. The pontiff, a Chicago native, did not reveal who he voted for.",
  "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": "Axios",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-30T15:07:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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": "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."
}