Susanna Riva The current Pontiff known as Pope Leo was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to Italian citizenship, he holds U.S. citizenship and, under Illinois law, is registered as a voter in Leonox County. This dual citizenship allowed him to exercise, for the first time in the history of the Church, the right to vote in the United States, participating in the midterm elections by mail-in voting.
The first vote of a pope in the United States
The practice was confirmed by the Holy See Press Office, which stated that Pope Leo sent his ballot to the Illinois State Board of Elections from Chicago. Mail -in voting is permitted for American citizens residing abroad, and the pontiff took the opportunity to demonstrate his belief that "citizens have a duty to participate in democratic processes."
The gesture, made public by the Chicago Sun-Times , represents the first time in history that a Pope has directly exercised the American right to vote.
Health messages from the Rome-Montevideo flight
During the flight from Rome to Montevideo, the pontiff answered questions about the possibility of voting in Peru, where he is a citizen, explaining that it is not foreseen, but he would have the same feeling of benevolence.
Furthermore, following surgery to remove a tumor, he offered words of encouragement to patients: "I would tell them not to be afraid, regular check-ups are a blessing" and "the best thing is to take care of yourself." The secret to his speedy recovery , he declared, was faith in God, good doctors, and a healthy lifestyle . His message emphasized the importance of supporting the sick and promoting public health.