For the first time in history, a pope participates in a papal election, Leo XIV votes by letter in the mid-term election

For the first time in its history, a sitting pope, Leo XIV, has requested a mail-in ballot for the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The Will County election office confirmed that he applied for the ballot on October 3, registered under his civil name, Robert Francis Prevost. Previously, he participated in both major party primaries and presidential elections. His voting choices remain undisclosed. The pope's relationship with President Trump has been strained due to public disagreements over U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran. Tensions escalated to the point where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Vatican to ease relations. Leo XIV continues to advocate against war, emphasizing the suffering of innocent people.