Pope Leo XIV, the first sitting pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, said Friday that he was “proud to be an American and to exercise my right” to cast a ballot.
The pope spoke to reporters while traveling to Latin America for a 12-day trip, days after the Vatican confirmed that the U.S.-born pontiff had voted by mail in his hometown of Chicago. Leo declined to discuss the result of the midterm elections, which handed control of Congress to Democrats in a repudiation of President Trump. Instead, he referred reporters to a Vatican statement issued the previous week emphasizing his long-held support for civic participation.
The former 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 Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the Vatican said.
Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images 
The Vatican said Leo has a lengthy record of civic participation in the United States. During the nearly two decades he spent as a missionary and later a bishop in Peru, he voted whenever he was eligible. The pope holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship.
Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images 
Leo said Friday that he was unable to vote in Peru’s most recent election because absentee ballots “aren’t possible” there.
“But I would have done it. It’s a good thing,” he said, according to The Associated Press.
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U.S. federal law permits American citizens to retain their citizenship even when they work for foreign governments.
The 71-year-old pope is making the three-nation, 12-day journey just three weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. Doctors cleared him to travel on Oct. 26, two weeks after the procedure.
“I am very happy to be here myself. I know some people were doubtful about this trip taking place,” Leo told reporters after greeting them at the back of the plane. “I confess that from the first day, I had no doubt. I was convinced that this trip had to go forward and very happy to say, praise the Lord and thanks to wonderful medical assistance, I am here today, I think, in fairly good shape.”
He did acknowledge one activity he had not yet resumed: playing tennis.
“Not yet, but I will,” he said.
On Oct. 13, doctors removed the lower lobe of Leo’s right lung after finding a malignant tumor. His doctors said the cancer, identified as lung adenocarcinoma, was discovered by chance during a routine abdominal examination. The operation was successful and without complications, and Leo was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 17.
“Early detection is obviously the best way to go, and so regular checkups are a blessing,” Leo said, attributing his recovery to “trusting God, good doctors, good surgeons, and overall I think a healthy lifestyle.”
