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Pope Leo XIV Votes in U.S. Election, Embarks on South American Tour
· Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, voted in the U.S. midterm election and departed for a 12-day tour of South America.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, cast his vote in the U.S. Midterm election, marking a historic moment for the papacy.
According to CBS News and Religion News Service, Pope Leo XIV said, 'I am proud to be an American and to exercise my right to vote.'
Pope Leo XIV departed from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, for Montevideo, Uruguay, at the start of his twelve-day apostolic journey to South America.
The Vatican stated that the pope had been cleared to travel on Oct. 26, two weeks after his surgery, and that he had undergone blood tests and a chest X-ray, which confirmed the steady improvement in his overall condition.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, has a rich history of civic engagement in the U.S. and Peru, and he acknowledged that he had not yet had the chance to play tennis but expressed his intention to do so.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni told journalists that the tour, one of the most grueling undertaken by a Catholic leader in decades, is a 'homecoming to places where he spent a long time and to which he feels closely connected.'
The pope’s doctors confirmed that he was in good health and that he trusted God, good doctors, good surgeons, and a healthy lifestyle.
Pope Leo XIV’s decision to vote and embark on the tour underscores his commitment to both his faith and his citizenship, despite his recent health challenges.
Pope Leo XIV’s actions highlight the intersection of his American identity and his role as the leader of the Catholic Church, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and democratic participation.
The tour and the vote reflect Pope Leo XIV’s dedication to his dual roles as an American citizen and the head of the Catholic Church, despite the health concerns.
The pope’s journey and his voting rights demonstrate his commitment to both his faith and his country, setting a precedent for future pontiffs.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has cast an absentee ballot in the 2026 U.S. Midterm election, marking a significant moment in the history of the papacy.
What this adds
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has cast an absentee ballot in the 2026 U.S. midterm election, marking a significant moment in the history of the papacy.
Pope Leo XIV’s decision to vote and embark on the tour underscores his commitment to both his faith and his citizenship, despite his recent health challenges.
The tour and the vote reflect Pope Leo XIV’s dedication to his dual roles as an American citizen and the head of the Catholic Church, despite the health concerns.
Pope Leo XIV’s actions and statements highlight the intersection of his American identity and his role as the leader of the Catholic Church, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and democratic participation.
Background
Pope Leo XIV, who underwent lung cancer surgery three weeks ago, embarked on an 12-day tour of South America on Friday, beginning in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Pope Leo XIV departed Rome for Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 6, 2026, starting an 12-day tour of South America.
What's confirmed
- The pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so," the Holy See press office said in an Oct. 30 statement.
- The 71-year-old pope is on a three-nation, 12-day tour just three weeks after he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
- "But I would have done it. It's a good thing," he said, according to the AP.
- Pope Leo XIV departs from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, near Rome, for Montevideo, Uruguay, at the start of his twelve-day apostolic journey to South America, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.
What's still developing
- Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty The first American pope just brought Hollywood to the Vatican.