POLITICS
Pope Leo XIV becomes first sitting pope to vote in U.S. election
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, voted in the 2026 Illinois midterm elections using a mail-in ballot, according to Vatican confirmation. This marks the first known instance of a sitting pope voting in a U.S. election.
Left3
Left-leaning outlets frame this as a historic moment occurring as the Trump era comes to an end, emphasizing the significance of an American pope participating in U.S. democracy.
Center1
Center outlets note that Leo is the first American pope and reference a public feud between him and President Trump earlier this year as context for his voting.
Right2
Right-leaning outlets present this as a notable historical development, with some noting the irony that an American pope may be voting in an American election for the first time.