This September 14, 2025, marks the 70th birthday of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost. This is a significant date, as it is his first since being elected Supreme Pontiff on May 8, 2025.

A life in service to the Church

Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, to a family with Spanish, French, and Italian roots, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977. He made his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in Rome on June 19, 1982.
His academic training is extensive: studies in mathematics, philosophy, and a doctorate in Canon Law from the Angelicum University in Rome, with the highest honors.

His missionary vocation led him to Peru, where he served as a trainer and teacher, as well as bishop of Chiclayo and apostolic administrator in other dioceses. He was later called to Rome to collaborate in the Curia, until the Holy Spirit led him to the Petrine ministry.

A birthday with spiritual meaning

Celebrating 70 years as Pope reminds the faithful of the richness of his pastoral and human experience. His life reflects Augustinian spirituality: the constant search for God, the union of heart and reason, fraternity, and an interiority that translates into service.

The Order of Saint Augustine and numerous Catholic communities around the world today emphasize his closeness, his capacity for dialogue, and his openness to the Church’s current challenges. This anniversary also marks a sign of renewal and hope in the synodal journey he himself promotes.

Gratitude and prayer

The birthday of Pope Leo XIV becomes an opportunity to thank God for his life, his mission, and his dedication to the universal Church. The faithful from around the world join in prayer, asking for strength, health, and wisdom so that he may continue to guide the Church with the same spirit of service and fraternity that characterized his entire life.