Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday with a heartfelt message of thanks to God, his parents, and his supporters. The first American pope, Leo was greeted by a festive atmosphere in St. Peter's Square, where large banners reading "Happy Birthday" in English, Italian, and Spanish adorned the area. Balloons and congratulatory signs were also displayed by the faithful who gathered for the traditional noon blessing.

The pope, who served as a missionary and bishop in Peru for two decades, was particularly honored by groups of Peruvian believers, including dancers in traditional attire. "My dears, it seems you know today I have turned 70," Leo said, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "I thank the Lord, my parents, and all those who remembered me in their prayers."

Later in the day, Leo presided over an ecumenical prayer service dedicated to 21st-century martyrs. His birthday celebration included a special moment when he received a birthday cake from the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch. The cake, which was presented during a meeting on Saturday, featured a red sign that read "Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV" and was sourced from a popular Chicago restaurant.

Leo, who was elected pope last May at the age of 69, is the youngest pope since Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II in 1978. Many attendees in St. Peter's Square expressed their support for him, recognizing the significant responsibilities he faces in leading the Catholic Church during challenging times. Lorenzo Vecchio, a member of a Catholic university group, remarked, "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."

Celso Fernandez, a Rome resident from Leo's former diocese in Chiclayo, Peru, reminisced about how the faithful in Chiclayo used to celebrate their former bishop's birthday, which coincided with a local religious feast. "Now we come to him for his birthday," he said.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni also extended her greetings, expressing gratitude for Leo's preaching, which she described as a source of inspiration. She stated 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."

As the day concluded, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the significance of his milestone birthday, thanking everyone for their well wishes and prayers.