That mail ballot had to travel a long way — from Joliet to the Vatican City, where Pope Leo XIV has led the Catholic church since white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel in May 2025.
Wouldn’t that be true for many people who vote, and that’s why voting is done en masse, to track the interests of the whole populace? Many people have ‘duties’ to things which are not their country, would you also say that someone who is dedicated to their job shouldn’t vote because their ‘primary duty’ is not to the United States, but to a corporation?
It’s not like he’s in a position of power in the political system, it’s just one vote.
Which other Pope has endorsed a US candidate? I things they tried to stay out of that part (but are fine weighing in on bigger ideas like nuclear war and abortion)
So the fuck what? It’s one damn vote out of millions. Let’s have a little perspective here, eh?
And if your argument is going to be that they can influence others to vote like them, well, I present to you (gestures all around) all religions and political parties!
No it’s literally just that foreign heads of state, regardless of citizenship status. I would also go so far as to say foreign heads of state should not be able to hold dual citizenship, but that’s more of a problem for members of that state, not the state they’re also a citizen of.
You still haven’t explained why being a foreign head of state is any different than having a job in the US. Your point was their devotion, but so what?
Is your concern that their vote reflects their political beliefs? That’s silly, don’t you think? Of course it reflects their political beliefs.
Is your concern that their political beliefs may reasonably be aligned with the destruction of the US? That’s a bit far fetched, don’t you think?
But regardless, he’s an American. If he wants to destroy the state, shouldn’t he be free to vote that way?
Or, are you concerned that, by acting as head of state, his actions would arguable be that of the state he represents? Meaning… it’s not Leo XIV voting, it’s the Pope?
You don’t make that same conclusion when the president votes, do you?
Should Trump not be allowed to vote because he’s the head of MAGA? Surely MAGA is worse than Pope, right?
I’m really struggling to find the coherency in your perspective. Can you help me out?
Why not? If they are citiziens they have the same rights as everyone else.
They have a glaring conflict of interests, because their primary duty is to the states they head, not to the United States.
Wouldn’t that be true for many people who vote, and that’s why voting is done en masse, to track the interests of the whole populace? Many people have ‘duties’ to things which are not their country, would you also say that someone who is dedicated to their job shouldn’t vote because their ‘primary duty’ is not to the United States, but to a corporation?
It’s not like he’s in a position of power in the political system, it’s just one vote.
He is Monarch and absolute sovereign of Vatican city, that places him in the political spectrum.
As pope he is head of the Catholic Church, that gives him incredible reach and influence over Catholics around the world.
Can you imagine if it got out who he voted for?
It wouldn’t be much different from any other celebrity declaring who they’re going to vote for.
Different social classes, within the same country, have different interests. That is where the root of much conflict lies.
So… how is that different from any other pope endorsing a candidate?
Which other Pope has endorsed a US candidate? I things they tried to stay out of that part (but are fine weighing in on bigger ideas like nuclear war and abortion)
I mean…they basically endorse Republicans every chance they get.
Like you say, they weigh in on abortion. They say abortion is murder, Democrats support abortion, therefore Democrats are evil satanists baby killers.
I remember the “Vote for life” bumper stickers
Yeah how dare the Pope checks notes have opinions on matters of morality.
Get back with me when they deal with the sex offenders in their ranks.
I mean, none to my knowledge; the point is that even if they did none of these people would be making such a fuss about it.
Most people aren’t the head of a foreign country.
So the fuck what? It’s one damn vote out of millions. Let’s have a little perspective here, eh?
And if your argument is going to be that they can influence others to vote like them, well, I present to you (gestures all around) all religions and political parties!
No it’s literally just that foreign heads of state, regardless of citizenship status. I would also go so far as to say foreign heads of state should not be able to hold dual citizenship, but that’s more of a problem for members of that state, not the state they’re also a citizen of.
You still haven’t explained why being a foreign head of state is any different than having a job in the US. Your point was their devotion, but so what?
Is your concern that their vote reflects their political beliefs? That’s silly, don’t you think? Of course it reflects their political beliefs.
Is your concern that their political beliefs may reasonably be aligned with the destruction of the US? That’s a bit far fetched, don’t you think?
But regardless, he’s an American. If he wants to destroy the state, shouldn’t he be free to vote that way?
Or, are you concerned that, by acting as head of state, his actions would arguable be that of the state he represents? Meaning… it’s not Leo XIV voting, it’s the Pope?
You don’t make that same conclusion when the president votes, do you?
Should Trump not be allowed to vote because he’s the head of MAGA? Surely MAGA is worse than Pope, right?
I’m really struggling to find the coherency in your perspective. Can you help me out?
The state has a duty to its people, not vice versa.