Posted inVatican Dispatch

Pope Leo celebrates his 71st birthday—by giving gifts to the Vatican

by Gerard O’Connell September 14, 202

Pope Leo XIV blows out a candle as he receives an angel cake from Vatican employees to mark his 71st birthday during his visit to inaugurate the exhibition "AQVA. Catastrophe and Wonder” at the Vatican Library Sept. 14, 2026. Credit: OSV News photo/Simone Risoluti, Vatican Media

As he received good wishes and gifts from across the world, Pope Leo celebrated his 71st birthday in an unusual way today, Sept. 14, by giving two gifts that brought joy to many in the Holy See.

First, he restored—effective from Sept.1—full salaries to cardinals, senior officials, clerics and women and men religious working in the Holy See that had been reduced by Pope Francis amid a budget crisis during the Covid pandemic in March 2021. 

Second, he visited the Vatican Library for the first time as pope to open an exhibition centered on water and, while there, announced his decision to significantly extend the space available to the library and archives. 

 

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