Pope Leo XIV, who became the first sitting pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, said Friday that he is “proud to be an American and to exercise my right” to vote. His comments, made to reporters en route to Latin America for a 12-day trip, come after the Vatican confirmed that the American-born pontiff had voted by mail in his native Chicago. He declined to comment on the outcome of the midterm elections, which gave control of Congress to Democrats in a repudiation of President Trump. Instead, he pointed to the statement released by the Vatican last week that cited its long-held belief in civic participation. The pope, former Cardinal Robert Prevost, “has exercised his right to vote as an American citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” the Holy See press office said in an Oct. 30 statement. “The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Vatican said in a statement. Pope Leo XIV meets with the media on the papal flight from Rome to Montevideo, beginning his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on November 6, 2026, in Rome, Italy. Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images The Pope has a long history of civic engagement in the United States, the Vatican said, confirming that during his nearly two decades as a missionary and then bishop in Peru, Leo voted whenever he was eligible. He has American and Peruvian citizenship. The Associated Press reported that Leo, like Robert Prevost, previously voted in five primary elections since 2000: on Democratic tickets in 2008 and 2019 and on Republican tickets in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Pope Leo XIV meets with journalists on the papal flight from Rome to Montevideo for his apostolic trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on November 6, 2026. Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images Leo said on Friday that he had not been able to vote in Peru’s recent elections as absentee voting “is not possible.” “But I would have done it. It’s a good thing,” he said, according to the AP. US federal law allows US citizens, even those who work for foreign governments, to retain their citizenship. The 71-year-old pope is on a 12-day, three-country tour just three weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. He was cleared to travel on October 26, two weeks after his surgery. “I’m very happy to be here. I know some people had doubts about making this trip,” Leo told reporters as he greeted them at the back of the plane. “I confess that from the first day I had no doubt. I was convinced that this journey had to go ahead and very happy to say, praise the Lord and thanks to the wonderful medical assistance, today I am here, I think, in pretty good shape.” He acknowledged, however, that he had not yet had the opportunity to play tennis. “Not yet, but I will,” he said. On October 13, doctors removed the lower lobe of Leo’s right lung after discovering a malignant tumor. The cancer, identified as lung adenocarcinoma, was discovered accidentally during a routine abdominal exam, his doctors said. The operation was successful, without complications, and Leo was discharged from the hospital on October 17. “Early detection is obviously the best way to go, so regular checkups are a blessing,” Leo said, attributing his recovery to “trusting in God, in good doctors, in good surgeons and generally, I think, in a healthy lifestyle.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope Go Deeper with The Free Press In:
