ROME — Pope Leo XIV has cast his ballot in the United States midterm election from Rome, the Vatican announced Friday, adding another first to the record of the first American-born pope.

The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the Chicago native submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago, continuing what it described as his longstanding practice of voting whenever he was eligible to do so. The Vatican statement said the pope "expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in the democratic processes."

According to Religion News Service, the pope's name appears on a Will County, Illinois, vote-by-mail report as "Prevost, Robert F," listed just below his brother's name at an address in New Lenox, a southwest Chicago suburb. Illinois records describe Leo, born Robert Prevost, as "undeclared" for a political party, the same affiliation listed for him in the 2024 and 2020 general elections.

His voting history stretches back well over a decade. Records show he voted in the general elections of 2018, 2014, and 2012, often voting early in New Lenox. In primary elections during those years his affiliation was listed as Republican, while CBS News reported that he most recently voted in a Democratic primary in 2010. Illinois voters are not required to register with a party to vote in a primary.

Like other Illinois voters, the pope's ballot included races for the U.S. Senate and House and for governor, along with contests for county offices and local boards. His own ballot remains private, and both candidates in his congressional district — Republican Christian Maxwell and incumbent Democrat Jonathan Jackson — praised the pope for voting without presuming to know how he voted.

"I'm deeply grateful to him for that, and for the example it sets for every voter in our district," Jackson said, adding that he was "honored to count him as a constituent." Maxwell said she was glad to see the pope exercise his right to vote, calling it "a fascinating reminder that every voter, regardless of their position or prominence, has a voice in our democracy."

Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called the pope a role model for the election season, saying the bishops encourage Catholics to inform their conscience before voting and to uphold human dignity and the common good. Steven P. Millies, a professor of public theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, said the pope's action reflects a sense of duty rooted in Catholic social teaching.

The announcement came about two and a half weeks after Leo underwent successful surgery for lung cancer and was released from a Rome hospital on October 17. The Vatican has noted that when Leo lived in Peru, he also voted whenever he was eligible.

Source: Religion News Service.