Pope Leo XIV has requested a mail ballot for Illinois’ upcoming midterm election on November 3. This action places him on the path to becoming the first pope to participate in a secular election while serving as pontiff. Born Robert Francis Prevost, the pope made his request on October 3, as confirmed by the Will County Clerk’s Office. Although he leads the Catholic Church from Vatican City, he remains registered to vote in New Lenox, Illinois.
The clerk’s office noted that his vote-by-mail request was on record but did not confirm if the ballot has been returned. Kim Fladhammer, chief of staff for the Will County Clerk, relayed to the Chicago Sun-Times that “Robert Francis Prevost is on the list of individuals who requested a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming election.”
Already, over 20 million Americans and 1.16 million Illinois residents have voted early. Illinois law allows all registered voters, including those living overseas, to vote by mail.
Pope’s Ballot Content
The pope’s ballot is likely to feature the Illinois U.S. Senate race, which seeks to fill the seat of retiring Senator Dick Durbin. It will also include the reelection campaign of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other local contests in Will County.
Public records reviewed by the Sun-Times indicate that Leo has participated in both Republican and Democratic primaries in Illinois over the years. He voted in Democratic primaries in 2008 and 2010, and Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Illinois permits voters to cast ballots without party registration. Additionally, he has voted in multiple general elections, including recently in 2024. This upcoming election marks his first major participation since ascending to the papacy last year.
Relations with President Trump
Leo, the inaugural American-born pope, has occasionally clashed with President Donald Trump and some Republican officials. Disputes have arisen over immigration policies and foreign affairs, notably the conflict in Iran. Despite the Vatican’s general stance of non-interference in U.S. politics, tensions have surfaced. President Trump criticized the pope in April, labeling him “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy,” to which Leo responded, maintaining he had “no fear” of the Trump administration.
The pope has denounced the Middle Eastern conflict and the “delusion of omnipotence” behind it, attributing the situation to “absurd and inhuman violence.”
Pope Leo’s Health Update
Pope Leo remembered to request his ballot before undergoing lung surgery earlier this month. A tumor was removed from his right lung, diagnosed as a localized lung adenocarcinoma. Further treatment is not required.
His physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, released a statement. They confirmed the final tests corroborated the initial diagnosis, ensuring no cancer had spread. They stated, “The results confirmed the tumor was a localized lung adenocarcinoma. A subsequent oncological evaluation confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.”
Leave a Reply