Pope Leo Says He Was Proud to Vote in US Midterms
Leo spoke with journalists on the plane traveling from Rome to Montevideo, the first stop on a 12-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Vatican said on October 30 that he had cast a mail-in ballot in Chicago. Asked about voting, he said he valued the chance, as an American, to take part, and referred reporters to the Vatican’s earlier statement. He declined to discuss the election results, including the Democratic win in Texas, and said he could not vote in Peru’s recent election because absentee ballots were unavailable there.
The Vatican statement described voting as something Leo had done whenever eligible and linked it to citizens’ participation in democratic processes. His ballot drew debate because he is head of the Holy See, though US law allows citizens working for foreign governments to retain their citizenship.
The trip is Leo’s first since an operation three weeks earlier to excise a malignant growth in his right lung. Doctors said the cancer was detected early, the operation removed the tumor, and he needs no further treatment. Leo said he had been confident the trip would proceed and credited God, medical care and a healthy lifestyle with his recovery. He said regular checkups help detect illness early.
Leo said his diagnosis strengthened his desire to remain close to sick people and to emphasize that healthcare should be a right for all. The tour includes about 50 events and 36 speeches across roughly 19,000 miles. In Peru, where he spent about two decades as a missionary and bishop, he is scheduled to visit Cusco, at an elevation above 11,000 feet.
Pope Highlights Civic Duty and Healthcare Access After Surgery
Pope Leo XIV used his first trip after lung cancer surgery to underscore two basic commitments: taking part in democracy and ensuring people can access healthcare. Speaking to journalists aboard his plane to Uruguay on November 6, he said voting in the US midterms was a privilege he valued. The Vatican confirmed he mailed in a ballot in Chicago and said he has voted whenever eligible.
Leo declined to comment on the election outcome, including the Democratic victory in Texas. His remarks came after midterm results handed control of Congress to Democrats in a rebuke to President Donald Trump and his policies. The pope has also publicly disagreed with the administration over Iran and migration.
The pope’s own recent cancer diagnosis informed his message on healthcare. Doctors found the cancer early, removed the tumor from his right lung, and said he needs no further treatment. Leo credited God and his medical team, while describing regular checkups as important. He said he felt a renewed commitment to sick people and wanted to emphasize that healthcare should be a right for everyone.
Leo began a 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, with about 50 events and 36 speeches planned across roughly 19,000 miles. The demanding schedule follows surgery just three weeks earlier. His message on healthcare places access to care at the center of the journey, rather than treating it as a privilege reserved for those who can afford it.
Pope’s Midterm Vote Puts His Political Role in Focus
Pope Leo XIV’s declaration that he was proud to vote in the US midterms puts his political role under scrutiny. The head of the Holy See cast a mail-in ballot in Chicago, then declined to comment on the results as he traveled to Uruguay. His vote prompted debate because he leads a foreign state, even though US law permits citizens employed by foreign governments to retain their citizenship.
The Vatican defended the ballot as an exercise of civic participation, saying Leo had voted whenever he was eligible. The pope also said he would have voted in Peru’s recent election, but absentee ballots were not available. He offered no view on the Democratic win in Texas or the broader election outcome, which gave Democrats control of Congress and rejected Trump and his policies.
Leo’s comments arrive amid public disagreements with the Trump administration over Iran and migration. While he chose not to weigh in on election results, his pride in voting makes clear that he remains personally engaged in American civic life even as he holds a global religious office.
He made the remarks at the start of a 12-day Latin American tour, three weeks after an operation to excise a malignant growth in his right lung. Doctors said the cancer was caught early and that he needs no further treatment. Leo credited God and his doctors for his recovery and said he wants to highlight healthcare as a right for all people.
