{
  "id": 17292364,
  "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-17292364",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T20:55:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/pope-leo-xiv-becomes-first-pontiff-to-vote-in-a-us-election/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV has cast his vote in Illinois' midterm elections, marking a historic first for a pontiff to participate in a U.S. election. The Holy See Press Office confirmed the Holy Father's decision, highlighting the belief in citizens' right and responsibility to engage in democratic processes. As the first U.S. citizen to assume the Vatican's highest office since his selection in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has faced disputes with the Trump administration on matters like immigration and the Iran situation. Despite his health issues, including lung cancer, he requested a mail-in ballot from the Will County Clerk's Office on October 3 and underwent surgery two weeks later. The Pope will travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in early November, despite facing criticism from then-President Trump. Tensions between the Vatican and the U.S. government intensified in April, following the Pope's plea for peace after the U.S. strikes on Iran. Democrats are favored to gain control of the House of Representatives and potentially win Senate seats in the November elections, while President Trump holds rallies in states he's expected to win.",
  "summary": "Pope Leo XIV has submitted his mail-in ballot in Illinois, for the midterm elections, becoming the first-ever pope to vote in a US election. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement. The Chicago-born pontiff […] The post Pope Leo XIV becomes first pontiff to vote in a US…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 13,
    "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": "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."
}