Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday on September 14th by receiving congratulations from all continents. Political leaders, representatives of the Church and the academic world joined to express their gratitude and recognition to the Pontiff for his pastoral service and his constant call for peace.
The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, highlighted in his message the Pope’s appeals to stop conflicts and resume dialogue, noting that thousands of civilian victims pay an intolerable tribute to violence every day. The Italian Episcopal Conference and the Diocese of Rome also expressed their closeness and gratitude for the paternal spirit of the Holy Father, inviting to keep alive the hope of a “disarmed and disarming peace”.
Among the most emotional displays were the drawings sent by the children hospitalized at Bambino Gesù, who portrayed the Pope as a messenger of peace. To this were added the congratulations from the Italian Christian Workers’ Associations and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, which highlighted his commitment to the defense of life, justice, and the educational mission in the context of the Holy Year of Hope.
A birthday with an ecumenical emphasis
The day was also marked by ecumenism. At the end of the liturgy commemorating the martyrs and witnesses of faith of the 21st century in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Leo XIV greeted in the sacristy representatives of other Churches and Christian Communities. Later, in the Pinacoteca Room, he received a special greeting from the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who addressed words of congratulations to him. The Pope thanked with a personal recollection of his vocation, stating: “From the beginning of my vocation, I have always responded: Not my will, but yours, Lord”.
The Pontiff also expressed his desire that the enthusiasm of the Jubilee Year be translated into fruits of evangelization and a shared path of unity, charity, and hope. The celebration concluded with a toast, the cutting of the cake, and the singing of “Happy Birthday,” before the Pope went out to greet the crowd gathered outside the basilica.
Thus, Leo XIV’s 70th birthday was not only marked by congratulations and gestures of affection, but also by a strong call for peace and the unity of Christians, confirming the spiritual direction of his pontificate.