Born Robert Prevost, the pontiff holds triple citizenship across the United States, Peru, and the Vatican. His participation comes as Illinois voters decide on a gubernatorial race and a successor to retiring Senator Dick Durbin. Records show he requested the mail-in ballot on October 3, just prior to undergoing surgery for a cancerous lung tumor. Although federal law accommodates overseas voters, the State Department notes citizenship status may be actively reviewed for Americans serving as foreign heads of state.
Key points
The Vatican confirmed the pontiff exercised his legal rights as a United States citizen t…: The Vatican confirmed the pontiff exercised his legal rights as a United States citizen to participate in democratic elections.
Tension persists with President Donald Trump, who previously called the pontiff weak over…: Tension persists with President Donald Trump, who previously called the pontiff weak over disagreements concerning immigration and the war on Iran.
U.S. State Department policies permit active citizenship reviews for American citizens wh…: U.S. State Department policies permit active citizenship reviews for American citizens who concurrently serve as foreign heads of state.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Vatican confirms the pope submitted a mail-in ballot in his native Chicago ahead of November 3 midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a United States general election after casting a mail-in ballot in Chicago, where he was born.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that the pope submitted a mail-in ballot in the city ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, citing his longstanding belief in civic participation.
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Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen”, as he has done “whenever he was eligible to do so”, the Vatican’s press office said.
“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” it added.
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