Pope Leo XIV Marks 71st Birthday as First American Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV is celebrating his 71st birthday today, marking another milestone as the first American-
born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, he was elected the 267th pope
on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis. He took the name Leo XIV and has dual citizenship of the
United States and Peru.

Messages and expressions of good wishes have been arriving at the Vatican from around the world.
The presidency of the Italian Bishops’ Conference sent greetings on behalf of Italy’s local churches,
thanking the Pope for his service and recalling his emphasis on the Gospel as the fundamental priority of
ecclesial life.
Pope Leo XIV’s first year has been marked by appeals for peace, apostolic journeys and a focus on
human dignity.
He became the first pontiff to visit Monaco and Algeria, where he travelled to Annaba (ancient Hippo)
associated with Saint Augustine. During a visit to Spain, he became the first pope to address the Spanish
Parliament.

On January 6, 2026, he closed the Jubilee Year 2025 by shutting the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
His first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, addressed artificial intelligence and stressed that technology
must serve human dignity, freedom, responsibility and the common good.
He also completed Dilexi te, an apostolic exhortation on love for the poor begun by Pope Francis.
A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, Prevost previously served as prior general of the order and
as a missionary and bishop in Peru before rising to key Vatican roles under Pope Francis.
As he enters his 72nd year, the central themes of his pontificate remain peace, unity and the defence of
human dignity.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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