STORY: Pope Leo marked his 71st birthday among the Vatican’s books on Monday (September 14), blowing out a candle on a birthday cake during a visit to the Apostolic Library, where he joked that divine providence had brought him there on the special day, as his mother was a librarian.

During the morning of his birthday, the Pope also inaugurated a new exhibition, "AQVA - Catastrophe and Wonder," at the Vatican Apostolic Library.

Pope Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. On May 8, 2025, he was elected to succeed the late Pope Francis, becoming the first U.S. leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.

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Pope Leo turns 71 with a birthday cake fit for the Vatican books

VIDEO SHOWS: POPE LEO VISITING VATICAN APOSTOLIC LIBRARY AND CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY WITH EMPLOYEES OF THE VATICAN

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: VATICAN CITY (SEPTEMBER 14, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access all)

1. POPE FRANCIS ARRIVING TO INAUGURATE THE ART EXHIBIT AND VISIT VATICAN APOSTOLIC LIBRARY / LEO SHAKING HANDS WITH FRENCH ARTIST JR

2. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO VISITING THE EXHIBITION "AQVA - CATASTROPHE AND WONDER"

3. WOMEN LOOKING ON

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"I would simply like to say that God, in His providence, and sometimes with a certain sense of humour, always reminds us that He is with us. Many of you may not know this, but my mother was a librarian, and today I find myself here on my birthday, to greet all of you."

5. PEOPLE APPLAUDING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"Thank you. It is therefore with great pleasure that, on this day as well, on this festive occasion, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to all of you. The Lord be with you. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Our help is in the name of the Lord. And may Almighty God bless you: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Many thanks again to all of you."

7. BIRTHDAY CAKE

8. POPE BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES ON THE BIRTHDAY CAKE