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(RNS) — Pope Leo XIV has done his civic duty: He has voted from Rome in the U.S. midterm election, the Vatican announced, marking another first for the American pope.

“Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” reads the Friday (Oct. 30) announcement about the Chicago native. “The Holy See Press Office confirms that in keeping with this longstanding practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago.”

The Holy See Press Office noted that when Leo lived in Peru, he also voted whenever he was eligible to mark a ballot.

“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in the democratic processes,” it added.

The action by the leader of the world’s Catholics was announced two and a half weeks after Leo underwent successful surgery for lung cancer. He was released from a Rome hospital on Oct.…