Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday on March 17, 2024, with a heartfelt public address at the Vatican, expressing gratitude to God, his parents, and his supporters. The event drew a large crowd to St. Peter’s Square, where vibrant “Happy Birthday” banners in English, Italian, and Spanish adorned the area, alongside balloons and signs held by devoted followers.
The first U.S.-born pope, Leo, received a birthday cake from Brian Burch, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, during a meeting the day before. This meeting marked Burch’s official introduction to the pontiff and underscored the continuing diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Holy See.
During his address, Pope Leo acknowledged the well-wishes of the faithful, saying, “My dears, it seems you know today I have turned 70. I thank the Lord, my parents and all those who remembered me in their prayers.” The atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square was charged with excitement, particularly from groups of Peruvian believers, including traditional dancers, reflecting the pope’s two decades of service in Peru as a missionary and bishop.
Birthday Celebrations and Official Duties
The pope’s birthday festivities included an ecumenical prayer service focused on honoring 21st-century martyrs. This event highlighted his commitment to interfaith dialogue and remembrance of those who have suffered for their beliefs. Video footage captured the moment when Ambassador Burch presented Leo with a chocolate cake, topped with a red sign that read, “Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV.” The cake was sourced from Portillo’s, a popular restaurant in Chicago, the pope’s home city.
Burch assumed his role as ambassador on the same day, with the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See noting that this meeting was a significant milestone in strengthening ties between the two entities.
Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Robert Prevost, made history last May when he became the youngest pope since Karol Wojtyla, who was elected Pope John Paul II at age 58 in 1978. The weight of leadership during challenging geopolitical times has not gone unnoticed by the public.
Lorenzo Vecchio, a member of a Catholic university group in St. Peter’s Square, shared his thoughts on the pope’s role: “Well, he definitely needs a lot of support, because he has to carry on a pontificate during a particularly difficult period, both for geopolitical issues and certainly for internal matters. We are certainly happy that he is a very young pope.”
Messages of Support
Among those extending birthday wishes was Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Premier, who expressed gratitude for Leo’s inspiring preaching. In her statement, she remarked that his teachings provide “reliable and solid guidance in extremely complex times, when certainties seem to waver and changes are as sudden as they are profound.”
The pope’s roots in Chiclayo, Peru, were also celebrated, with local resident Celso Fernandez, recalling how the faithful in his former diocese used to commemorate their bishop’s birthday alongside a local religious celebration. “Now we come to him for his birthday,” he noted, reinforcing the bond between the pope and those he served.
As festivities concluded, Pope Leo XIV’s milestone birthday served as a reminder of his influence and the challenges that lie ahead as he leads the Catholic Church during a time of significant change.
