Newly elected pontiff voted in multiple Republican primaries and general elections before moving to the Vatican
Rome — In an unexpected revelation, newly elected Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—has a well-documented history of participating in Republican primaries and U.S. general elections before his rise through the Catholic Church’s highest ranks, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.
Before taking up his Vatican post, then-Cardinal Prevost, a native of Dolton, Illinois, was an active voter. Records show that he cast ballots in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016. He also participated in general elections in 2012, 2014, 2018, and most recently in 2024. Illinois does not require voters to register with a political party, but the records cited indicate that Leo XIV consistently voted in Republican contests.
Political history rooted in the Midwest
The revelations have sparked intrigue about the ideological leanings of the new pope, who spent years serving in Peru before being brought to Rome in 2023 by Pope Francis. Appointed Bishop of Chicalyo in 2014, Prevost later became the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican office overseeing episcopal appointments.
His last participation in a Republican primary in 2016—followed by his absence in that year’s general election—has led to speculation that he may have aligned with the “never-Trump” faction of the GOP. That narrative is further supported by his public criticism of Donald Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration, both during and after Trump’s presidency.
A vocal critic of Trump-era immigration policies
Throughout the Trump administration, Pope Leo XIV made his stance on U.S. immigration policies clear. In 2017, he retweeted a post expressing dismay at the then-president’s refugee ban. His online activity remained consistent, with critiques of controversial actions involving migrants and asylum seekers.
In April, as tensions flared around the Oval Office meeting between former President Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele—amid allegations surrounding MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia—Leo XIV retweeted a Catholic commentator’s rebuke of both leaders.
Weighing in on politics, even from the pulpit
Despite his ascent to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV has not shied away from engaging with political discourse, especially when it comes to moral and theological issues. In a veiled critique aimed at Catholic convert and Vice President JD Vance, the pontiff retweeted a statement that read: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
While the Catholic Church has traditionally maintained political neutrality at the institutional level, Pope Leo XIV’s past civic activity in American politics—and his outspoken views on U.S. policies—add a new dimension to the global leader’s public image.
As the Vatican begins a new chapter under his leadership, the world is watching how Pope Leo XIV balances his American political past with his universal role as spiritual shepherd to 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
