Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday, September 14, a day that carried both personal and spiritual significance. The date coincided with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the Pope used the occasion to reflect on his life, his ministry, and the enduring mystery of the Cross at the heart of Christian faith.
Earlier that morning, during his Angelus address, Pope Leo meditated on the words of Christ to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John. He explained that the Son of Man would be lifted up so that all who believe might have eternal life. What once was a symbol of shame and death, he said, God has transformed into the very instrument of salvation. He invited the faithful to look to Christ on the Cross as the source of healing and hope, recalling that God draws near not as a distant judge but as a companion, friend, and teacher who offers Himself completely in the Eucharist.
The Pope concluded the Angelus by acknowledging his birthday with humility, thanking God, his parents, and all who had prayed for him. It was a quiet moment of gratitude before the more festive celebration that followed later in the day.
On Sunday evening, following the “Commemoration of the Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith of the 21st Century” at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Cardinals and other Christian leaders surprised the Holy Father with a simple gathering and a birthday cake. The Pope thanked Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and reflected on the significance of his birthday falling on the feast of the Cross. From the beginning of his vocation, he said, he has tried to live by the words of Christ in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours, Lord.”
The Pope also expressed hope that the Jubilee Year would strengthen the mission of evangelization and that the spirit of the evening’s ecumenical commemoration would carry forward. He encouraged all present to continue walking together as “witnesses of unity, charity, and hope.”
After a toast and the singing of “Happy Birthday,” Pope Leo cut the cake and shared greetings with those gathered. As he left the Basilica, he paused to greet the faithful waiting outside, a reminder that even on such a personal milestone, his heart remains directed outward, in service to God and His people.
The day was marked by both solemnity and joy: a meditation on the mystery of the Cross at the Angelus, an ecumenical remembrance of modern martyrs, and the warmth of a simple birthday celebration. For Pope Leo XIV, turning 70 was not only a moment to give thanks for the years behind him, but also to renew his commitment to live each day in obedience to God’s will.