Pope Leo XIV Reportedly Voted In 2024 US Election

Forbes - May 9th, 2025

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, has made history as the first American elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Recent reports reveal that Pope Leo XIV voted in several U.S. elections, including the 2024 general election. He has participated in both Republican and Democratic primaries over the years, though his specific political leanings remain somewhat opaque. The discovery of his voting history has sparked discussions about the potential influence of his American political background on his papacy.

The election of an American pope is significant, marking a shift in the Catholic Church's global representation. Pope Leo XIV's previous voting record and online activity, which allegedly includes criticism of former President Donald Trump, have caused a stir among political commentators and some of Trump's supporters. Despite this, Trump himself expressed excitement over the election of the first American pope. The new pope's approach to social issues, particularly regarding the disenfranchised and migrants, is likely to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, potentially impacting the Church's stance on global social justice issues.

Donald Trump Roman Catholic Church Vatican U.S. Elections Pope Leo Xiv American Pope Robert Francis Prevost Political Leanings

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RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The news story offers an intriguing look at Pope Leo XIV, focusing on his historic election as the first American pope and his purported political leanings. While the article is timely and engages public interest, it suffers from some accuracy and transparency issues, primarily due to unverified claims about the pope's voting history and social media activity. The reliance on reputable sources like the New York Times and CBS News lends credibility, but the lack of direct verification of certain claims weakens the overall reliability. The story is well-structured and accessible, yet it could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives and clearer distinctions between verified facts and speculative elements. Overall, the article is informative and engaging but requires careful consideration of its speculative claims.

Accuracy

The story makes several claims about Pope Leo XIV's past voting history and political leanings, which are partially supported by the cited sources like the New York Times and CBS News. However, the authenticity of the X account purportedly linked to the pope remains unverified, casting doubt on the accuracy of claims regarding his political opinions. Additionally, the report of him voting in the 2024 election, a future event at the time of writing, requires further verification. The lack of direct quotes or official statements from Pope Leo XIV himself about his voting history or political views also impacts the story's accuracy.

Balance

The article presents multiple perspectives, including reactions from Trump supporters and Pope Leo XIV's potential political leanings. However, it leans towards highlighting criticisms of Trump, without equally exploring potential positive interactions or neutral perspectives regarding the pope's past political actions. The story could benefit from a more balanced presentation by including more diverse viewpoints, such as reactions from Catholic communities or political analysts.

Clarity

The article is generally well-structured, with a logical flow of information from Pope Leo XIV's election to his purported voting history and political opinions. However, the inclusion of unverified claims about the X account and its posts could confuse readers. Greater clarity could be achieved by clearly distinguishing between verified facts and speculative or unverified information.

Source quality

The article references reputable sources like the New York Times and CBS News, which are generally considered reliable. However, the verification of the X account linked to Pope Leo XIV is not confirmed, which diminishes the credibility of some claims. While the story relies on established media outlets for voter data, the lack of direct access to voting records or statements from official election bodies weakens the source quality.

Transparency

The article provides some context about Pope Leo XIV's past voting behavior and political leanings, but it lacks transparency regarding the verification process of the X account and the methodology used to obtain voter data. The absence of detailed explanations about how the data was sourced and verified limits the transparency of the claims made.

Sources

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/cardinal-elected-pope-papal-name.html