Pope Leo XIV turns 70 and sends a message to his faithful

Pope Leo XIV turns 70 this Sunday and dedicated a message to the Catholic faithful in light of the occasion.

“Dear friends, today I turn seventy years old. I thank the Lord and my parents; and I also thank everyone who has remembered me in their prayers,” wrote the pontiff on X.

Prevost, life between continents and culture

Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, the son of a French father and a mother of Spanish descent. He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982.

His pastoral life has been divided between the United States, Rome, and particularly Peru, a country where he lived for more than 30 years and where he became a naturalized citizen.

Prevost served a long mission in the Andean country, where he was the bishop of Chiclayo, apostolic administrator of Callao, and a prominent member of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference.

Known for his academic profile—as a Doctor of Canon Law and polyglot—as well as his experience as a trainer and general prior of his order, he has held multiple significant positions in the Vatican since 2019.

Pope Francis entrusted Prevost by appointing him in 2023 as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, two positions of great significance in the governance of the Church. In 2023, he was also elevated to cardinal by Francis, who saw in him a continuation of his pastoral vision focused on the poorest and most marginalized.

A pope with a moderate and dialogue-oriented profile

León XIV has been described by Italian media as "the least American of Americans," referring to his conciliatory style and extensive experience in multicultural contexts. His election seems to convey a message of unity during a time of tensions within the Church, both internally and globally.

In his first message from the balcony of St. Peter's, the new pope spoke in Italian and Spanish, recalling his years of service in Peru. He called for peace, reconciliation, and unity, and paid tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis.

The Pope and Cuba

Robert Francis Prevost, 69 years old, was elected in early May as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. He is the first American Pope and also holds Peruvian citizenship, having lived in that country for several years.

Former Cardinal Prevost has had a direct connection with Cuba, a country he visited several times before his appointment as Supreme Pontiff.

Shortly after his appointment, a photo of him surfaced on social media in Havana alongside the late dissident Harold Cepero Escalante in front of the Havana Cathedral, capturing a moment of Christian fellowship that takes on new meaning today.

Cepero Escalante, a member of the Christian Liberation Movement, died at the age of 32 in Granma while riding in a car with Oswaldo Payá. The incident was classified as an "accident" by the government, but family members, friends, and a report from the Human Rights Foundation in 2015 attribute it to a deliberate action by the regime.

Precisely, following the election of the new Pope, Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel sent messages of congratulations, eager to project an image of harmony and continuity in relations with the Vatican.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pope Leo XIV and His Impact on the Catholic Church