GermanyPope Leo XIV has become the first known pontiff to vote in a domestic election while serving in office, having cast a ballot in the recent US congressional elections in his home state of Illinois. The Vatican Press Office confirmed reports from the Chicago Sun-Times that the Pope, registered under his birth name Robert Francis Prevost in New Lenox, submitted his absentee ballot by mail. This action was explicitly framed by the Vatican as an expression of civic duty and democratic participation, aligning with Catholic teaching that voting is a moral obligation for citizens. The article contrasts this approach with that of his predecessor Benedict XVI, who declined to vote in German federal elections during his papacy, citing his status as a sovereign head of state and the need for neutrality. The piece notes that while previous popes like Francis may have voted before their elevation, there is no documented record of them exercising this right during their tenure.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the Pope's voting act, contrasting it neutrally with historical precedents and citing both Vatican statements and independent media reports without editorial judgment.
