Pope Casts Vote via Mail in US Midterm Elections

Geneva -- The Vatican confirmed on Friday that Pope Leo XIV, the Pope of the Vatican, cast his vote in the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3 of next year by mailing his ballot to his hometown of Chicago, the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois. The Vatican, in a statement citing its news agency, Vatican News, explained that the Pope “exercised his right to vote as an American citizen, based on his conviction that participation in democratic processes is both a right and a duty of citizens, in line with his established approach to civic engagement and his commitment to contributing to the democratic process in his country.” It added that, under the laws of Illinois, the absentee voting system allows eligible American citizens to cast their votes remotely, including those residing outside the United States, in accordance with applicable legal regulations. U.S. midterm elections are held every two years, coinciding with the midpoint of the four-year presidential term, and include elections for members of the House of Representatives, a number of Senate seats, as well as various state and local offices. (End) A.M.K. / M.A.A.