Pope Becomes First Pontiff to Vote in a US Election; Perth Postal Voters Ask Whether He Also Had to Find a Stamp

By our Religious Affairs and Postage Correspondent

Pope Leo XIV has become the first pope ever to vote in a US election, after the Vatican confirmed the Chicago-born pontiff returned a mail-in ballot for next week’s midterms.

In Perth, postal voters were impressed. “I’ve been a postal voter for 20 years and I still panic about the envelope,” said a Kinross man. “Which bit goes in which bit? Do you sign the outside? The Pope managed it from Rome. He must have a very good desk.”

A Perth postman said the news “shows the importance of the postal system” and asked readers to note that he, too, delivers ballot papers in all weathers, “but nobody gives me a white hat”.

The Vatican said the Pope believes citizens have a right and a duty to take part in democratic processes. A Perth woman said she agreed, and would be telling her son, “who hasn’t voted since he found out you had to walk to the school”.

Election officials in Illinois have not said whether the ballot arrived with a blessing. It is believed to have arrived on time, which in Perth would be a miracle in itself.

The real story: Pope votes in US midterms (BBC)