Pope Leo XIV votes in US midterms, credits doctors for cancer recovery

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed he voted in the recent United States midterm elections, asserting his right to participate in American civic life despite his role as head of a foreign state. He made the comments on Friday while traveling to Latin America. The U.S. elections resulted in Democratic control of Congress.

The Pope said he is proud to be an American and to exercise his voting right. He pointed to a Vatican statement issued on Oct. 30 that confirmed he submitted a mail-in ballot from his hometown of Chicago. The statement noted that Leo has voted whenever eligible, citing his belief in the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes. He also has Peruvian citizenship but could not vote in Peru's recent election because absentee ballots are not an option there. He said he would have voted if it had been possible.

Leo is on the first leg of a 12-day tour covering three countries. His first stop is Montevideo, Uruguay. The trip will continue to Argentina and Peru. This journey comes just three weeks after he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. He told reporters on the plane that he is in fairly good shape and feels better than he looks. He credited his recovery to trusting God, receiving good medical assistance, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Doctors confirmed that Leo had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. They removed the lower lobe of his right lung. Tests showed he required no further treatment and cleared him for the trip. The nodule was found during a routine exam between his Sept. 25 to 28 visit to France and the Oct. 11 announcement of the diagnosis. Leo said early detection is the best approach and that regular checkups are a blessing. He added that his diagnosis has made him want to stay close to those who are sick.

The Pope’s decision to vote sparked debate because he is the head of the Holy See. U.S. federal law allows American citizens who work for foreign governments to keep their citizenship. As a Catholic, however, he is known as Leo, not Robert Prevost, which is the name on his voter registration. He recently joked about this duality while hosting basketball players from Villanova and Notre Dame. He said the pope does not take sides, but Prevost is a Villanovan. He expects to emphasize during his tour that healthcare should be a right for all people.