Pope Leo XIV marvels at 'huge learning curve' as he celebrates 70th birthday

By&nbspEuronews

Published connected 14/09/2025 - 17:09 GMT+2 •Updated 17:33

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th day from St. Peter's Square astatine nan Vatican connected Sunday, wherever he blessed nan religious gathered for nan Angelus dream and thanked them for their bully wishes.

“My dears, it seems you cognize coming I person turned 70,” Leo said to cheers. “I convey nan Lord, my parents and each those who remembered maine successful their prayers," nan pontiff said astatine nan extremity of nan prayer, arsenic applause erupted done nan square, wherever hundreds of group held "happy birthday” banners, successful English, Italian and Spanish, balloons and congratulatory signs

The Vatican reported that nan Pope received greetings from each complete nan world, including drawings from young patients astatine nan Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital successful Rome, a infirmary nan pontiff precocious visited successful August.

In galore of nan drawings, childrens expressed their wish for world peace. One kid had drawn Pope Leo XIV saying "Don't worry, I'll return attraction of it," while waving nan emblem of peace, betwixt a dove pinch an oliva branch and St Peter's Basilica coloured achromatic and yellowish for illustration nan Vatican flag.

'Huge learning curve'

Speaking successful interviews released Sunday connected Vatican analogous Elise Ann Allen's news tract Crux, Pope Leo XIV reflected connected nan "huge learning curve" he has taken connected arsenic pontiff and made nan comparison of jumping into "the heavy extremity of nan excavation very quickly."

History's first American pope said he had quickly recovered his footing arsenic a pastor for nan cosmopolitan Catholic Church, but discovered nan negotiated occupation of being pope was much challenging.

“The wholly caller facet to this occupation is being thrown onto nan level of world leader,” he said. “I’m learning a batch and emotion very challenged, but not overwhelmed."

Aside from Catholics from astir nan globe, nan pontiff besides received galore day wishes from world leaders. Among nan first to wish him was Italy's President Sergio Mattarella.

"Since nan opening of your precocious magisterium, you person delivered to nan full world organization and to individual consciences a beardown telephone for that 'unarmed and disarming peace' that opens hearts" Mattarella wrote successful his connection to nan pontiff.

"You person reminded us, pinch St Augustine, that 'we are nan times.' It is up to each of us, and successful peculiar to those who clasp nationalist office, to perpetrate ourselves to improving circumstances, reopening horizons of dialogue, justness and actual protection of nan dignity of each person," nan Italian caput of authorities added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for her part, issued a typical greeting thanking Leo for his preaching, which she said was a root of inspiration. Leo's teachings, she said successful a statement, “provide reliable and coagulated guidance successful highly analyzable times, erstwhile certainties look to waver and changes are arsenic abrupt arsenic they are profound.”

The German Bishops' Conference congratulated Pope Leo XIV, calling him a "bridge-building" and applauding his expertise to unite.

"We look backmost pinch admiration and emotion connected nan first months of his ministry. With your visible beingness for galore believers, your galore religion services, audiences and meetings during nan Holy Year, you show that nan Church is among nan people," wrote Bishop Dr Georg Bätzing connected behalf of nan full conference.