Overview

• Election records confirm Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, voted in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016, as well as general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024.
• Illinois's open primary system allows voters to select any party ballot without formal party registration, complicating assumptions about his political affiliation.
• Matt Knee of Pulse Decision Science suggests the pope’s voting history and recent public statements align with the profile of a former Republican or Never Trump conservative.
• Pope Leo XIV’s verified X account includes criticisms of Donald Trump, reposts advocating for gun control, and commentary on social and political issues.
• His election as the first U.S.-born pope signals a modern approach to papal leadership, blending global religious responsibilities with engagement in contemporary political discourse.