Pope Leo XIV is entitled to a birthday cake and the best wishes after the “commemoration of martyrs and witnesses of the 21st century faith” in the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls.
By Vatican News
Following the Commemoration of martyrs and witnesses of the faith of the 21st century Sunday evening in the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls, Pope Leo XIV shared the celebration of his 70th Birthday with the cardinals and other religious leaders who had participated in the commemoration and prepared a simple gathering and a birthday cake for the Pope.
By thanking the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Gioanni Battista Re, the pope noted the coincidence of his birthday with the feast of the exaltation of the cross: “From the start of my vocation, I always replied:” Not my will, but yours, lord, “he said.
According to a statement published by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope expressed his hope that “the enthusiasm of the faithful of this year of the jubilee could bear fruit for the mission to proclaim the Gospel”, and declared “he was happy to celebrate this day with an ecumenical character”, inviting everything to continue together as “witnesses of unity, charity and hope”.
After a brief toast, the cake cup and the song of “happy birthday” by the presents, Pope Leo left the basilica, stopping to greet the crowd outside before returning to the Vatican.
