“Our beloved Pope Leo XIV is turning 71. Happy birthday, Holy Father. May the Lord protect you, grant you a long life, make you a saint on earth, and not deliver you into the hands of your enemies,” wrote the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, who has recounted his time spent with Fr. Robert Prevost before he was elected Pope.
Although Leo XIV hasn't mentioned anything—neither during yesterday's Angelus nor in recent days—the Catholic world knew that today is his name day, among other reasons, because he already celebrated his first birthday as pope last year.
Peru's Profound Impact
The Peruvian Episcopal Conference, which is expecting the Pope from November 11 to 16, has sent him a warm greeting: “Happy birthday, Pope Leo XIV! Peru awaits you with joy, affection, and prayer.”.
Another example of Peruvian celebrations is the one in Monsefú, which features a popular festival: the town of Lambayeque, in Chiclayo, where the then-Monsignor Robert Prevost lived for years. There, they are preparing a tribute featuring marinera and some of his favorite dishes. The Peruvian press is presenting this as a sign of the town’s enduring affection for its former bishop.
In June of last year, the Vatican released the documentary Lion of Peru, marking the 20th anniversary of Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—in Peru. The 45-minute compilation of testimonies, prepared by the editorial team of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, traces the journey of his mission in Peru. ’From Chicago to Chulucanas, from Chiclayo to the Vatican,‘ goes one of the background songs by Los Bachiches.
From the Philippines, Spain, Mexico, publications…
The Filipino Augustinians have congratulated Leo XIV, calling him “brother,” on his 71st birthday. This is particularly interesting because they are his brothers in the Order, and it reflects a more familiar tone. The news was reported today by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Also from the Philippines, the Pope has received birthday wishes from GMA News (Philippines). The Philippine network published a graphic today reading: “Blessed 71st Birthday, Pope Leo XIV!”, accompanied by a message of prayer and thanksgiving.
The Pope visited Spain in June, leaving an indelible mark, and the Holy Father has also received congratulations from here, including those from the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Cáritas Diocesana de Madrid, and other institutions.
In addition, there have been numerous personal congratulations, especially on social media. For example, Samuel García, governor of Nuevo León (Mexico), posted on X: “Happy birthday, Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex_es. With great respect and admiration, I wish you health, long life, and much wisdom…”.
First North American Pope
León XIV is the first North American pope in the history of the Church, and people there are wishing the Pope a ‘Happy Birthday,’ starting with his siblings.
Professor Rafael Navarro Valls recently wrote A reflection on ‘An American Pope: The U.S. Influence on Leo XIV.’. In it, he writes that The fact that Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States is a historic event of enormous significance, although his international pastoral experience and his long-standing work in Latin America have shaped his leadership in a distinctly universal way.
The Gift of Life. A Life Dedicated to Others
When the Church congratulates the Pope on his 71st birthday, it is not merely celebrating the fact that Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, according to sources consulted. “It is giving thanks for a life that, over the years, has taken on a specific mission: Augustinian, priest, missionary in Peru, bishop, cardinal, and finally successor of Peter.”.
“In other words, celebrating a birthday means celebrating that a person has received the gift of life and that, as the years have passed, that gift has also become a gift to others.”.
Another theologian says: St. John Paul II wrote in his 1994 ‘Letter to Families’ that a newborn is a gift. He says: ‘Its existence is already a gift, the first gift of the Creator to the creature.’ In other words: ‘Its existence is already a gift, the first gift from the Creator to the creature.’.
And he expands on the idea: ”A child becomes a gift to his parents, his siblings, his family, and, ultimately, to society. A person’s existence is not insignificant: every birth changes the world because someone appears who wasn’t there before.” The same can be said of every human being, he concludes.
Pope Leo XIV, in his Speech addressing this year’s Diplomatic Corps, he said, among other things: “Life, in fact, is an inestimable gift that unfolds within a committed relationship based on mutual self-giving and service. In light of this profound view of life as a gift to be cherished, and of the family as its responsible guardian,” “we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development.”.
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