Pope Leo XIV marked his 70th birthday on Sunday by thanking God, his parents and all those who prayed for him.

Leo, the first American pope, saw giant Happy birthday banners, in English, Italian and Spanish, balloons and congratulatory signs held up by the faithful gathered in St. Peters Square for his traditional noon blessing. Groups of Peruvian believers, including dancers in traditional attire, were out in force, a testament to the two decades the pope spent in Peru as a missionary and a bishop at the time.

My dears, it seems you know today I have turned 70, Leo said to cheers. I thank the Lord, my parents and all those who remembered me in their prayers.

Later Sunday, Leo was spending his birthday afternoon presiding over an ecumenical prayer service in honor of 21st-century martyr

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