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Pope Leo XIV turns 70. Greetings from around the world and children's drawings, the Pope is moved.
Papa Leone XIV
Dear friends, as you may know, I am 70 years old today. I give thanks to the Lord, to my parents, and to all those who have remembered me in their prayers.
From the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace, after reciting the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV, born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois (USA), thanks all those who have remembered him in their prayers on his birthday. Applause and festive singing greeted the words of the Pope, who finally smiled and greeted the 30,000 faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus, wishing everyone a happy Sunday.
Music for the Pope
As soon as the Pope finished speaking, several bands present in Bernini's hemicycle began playing in his honour. Musical groups from Borno and Sonico in Val Camonica, in the province of Brescia, wanted to pay tribute to the Pope.
Flags and banners of good wishes
During the Angelus prayer, an inflatable representing the number '70', the age of Leo XIV, stood out in the square. A banner in Italian read 'Auguri Papa Leone' (Happy Birthday Pope Leo). A huge red and white flag bore the words 'Happy Birthday Pope Leo' in Spanish. Countless other messages in many languages from all over the world sent good wishes and affection to the Bishop of Rome, and many choirs sang their birthday greetings to the Pope.
Best wishes from the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, sent His Holiness the following message: "On the day of your 70th birthday, please accept my warmest wishes on behalf of the Italian people, together with my sincere wishes for your spiritual and personal well-being.The Head of State wrote: "I wish to assure you, Holy Father, that in the continuation of your high apostolic mission you can always count on the collaboration of the Italian Republic, which finds in your message of respect for the centrality of the human person, of service and of unity a reflection of the values of its own Constitution. In the hope of welcoming you soon to the Quirinale Palace, I ask you to accept, on the happy occasion of your birthday and in view of your name day, the expressions of affectionate closeness of all Italians and my highest consideration."
The Angelus: "God"s love is greater than our sin, let us give ourselves to one another"
"God saved us by revealing himself to us, by offering himself as our companion, teacher, doctor, friend, even to the point of becoming for us the bread broken in the Eucharist. And to do so, he used one of the most cruel instruments of death ever invented by man: the cross. That is why today we celebrate his 'exaltation: for the immense love with which God, embracing him for our salvation, transformed him from a means of death into an instrument of life' for the immense love with which God, embracing him for our salvation, transformed him from a means of death into an instrument of life, teaching us that nothing can separate us from him and that his love is greater than our own sin. Pope Leo XIV said this when he appeared at the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus to the faithful, praying to Mary, "the Mother present on Calvary with her Son, that her saving love may take root and grow in us too, and that we too may know how to give ourselves to one another, as he gave himself completely to all."