Happy Birthday to the Pope
This past weekend, on Sept. 15, Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday. I especially realize my advancing age when I kept thinking that, at 70 years old, what a young man we have as pope! At the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the pope shared his birthday with some cardinals and other faith leaders, after an ecumenical prayer service, who had prepared a simple gathering and presented him with a birthday cake. Thanking the group for their wishes and prayers, the pope noted how his birthday occurred on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and expressed, “From the beginning of my vocation, I have always answered, ‘Not my will, but yours, Lord.’”
We are indeed very blessed by the ministry of Pope Leo XIV as we were by the ministry of Pope Francis. Having completed over 100 days of his pontificate, Leo’s words in regard to his following the will of God certainly point out how he has lived his Christian life and ministry so faithfully from his earliest age. He was not expecting to be elected as the vicar of Christ, but he accepted the office of the pope as a sign of God’s will. He has shown in his short tenure as pope of how the will of God is what he seeks in his office for the good of the Church.
Just the day before his birthday, the excerpts of an interview between Leo XIV and the Crux senior correspondent was released. The interview has just been published in Spanish as a book under the title, Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century. The book will be available in English in early 2026. The interview is a lengthy one which gives great insight into the pope’s life and history, as well as to how he views his ministry. Certainly, the interview makes clear what is primary for Pope Leo XIV in discerning and following the will of God in his life.
One of the matters that was discussed in the interview was how Pope Leo is dealing with the challenges of his new ministry as chief shepherd of the Church. He made clear that he is very much enjoying the pastoral contact with so many people as this has been part of his life since being a missionary in Peru. His love for people in his pastoral ministry is very evident in just observing him as he interacts with others. However, he made clear that the new aspect of his ministry is now being on a level of a world leader. He stated that this aspect of being pope “is certainly new to me. I am learning a lot and feeling very challenged but not overwhelmed. On that one, I had to jump in on the deep end of the pool very quickly.” In his reflecting on this aspect of his ministry, he demonstrated how he relies upon the will of God and discerns very carefully, through prayer, consolation and reflection, what is best for the service of the people of God in the Church. He expressed, “being pope, successor to Peter, asked to confirm others in their faith, which is the most important part, is also something that can happen only by the grace of God, there’s no other explanation.”
Pope Leo XIV also expressed his intention to follow Pope Francis in regard to the matter of synodality, which was so important to his predecessor. He has not spoken too much about the topic of synodality, so to hear him articulate his views is very enlightening. He expressed that synodality is nothing new in the Church and was an important aspect of his ministry in Peru. He emphasized the importance of synodality as he described that, “synodality is an attitude, an openness, willingness to understand. Speaking of the Church now, this means each and every member of the Church has a voice and a role to play through prayer, reflection through a process. There are many ways that that could happen, but of dialogue and respect of one another. To bring people together and to understand that relationship, that interaction, that creating opportunities of encounter, is an important dimension of how we live our life as Church.” Pope Leo has demonstrated in his short tenure as pope and in his ministry in Peru, as well as that of superior of the Augustinians, how he shepherds in accord with the principles of synodality by carefully listening and discerning. His openness to others, and his relying upon the will of God in that openness, have been key parts of his ministry.
As Pope Leo celebrates his 70 years, we certainly wish him ad multos annos, many more years. He truly is a young pope, not quite as young as when St. John Paul II was elected, but still reminding all of us that being 70 years of age is a fruitful time relying upon the gifts and wisdom of God.
Happy Birthday, Pope Leo XIV!
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
