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

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his 70th birthday from St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, where he blessed the faithful gathered for the Angelus prayer and thanked them for their good wishes.

“My dears, it seems you know today I have turned 70,” Leo said to cheers. “I thank the Lord, my parents and all those who remembered me in their prayers," the pontiff said at the end of the prayer, as applause erupted through the square, where hundreds of people held "happy birthday” banners, in English, Italian and Spanish, balloons and congratulatory signs

The Vatican reported that the Pope received greetings from all over the world, including drawings from young patients at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, a hospital the pontiff recently visited in August.

In many of the drawings, childrens expressed their wish for world peace. One child had drawn Pope Leo XIV saying "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," while waving the flag of peace, between a dove with an olive branch and St Peter's Basilica coloured white and yellow like the Vatican flag.

'Huge learning curve'

Speaking in interviews released Sunday on Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen's news site Crux, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the "huge learning curve" he has taken on as pontiff and made the comparison of jumping into "the deep end of the pool very quickly."

History's first American pope said he had quickly found his footing as a pastor for the universal Catholic Church, but discovered the diplomatic job of being pope was more challenging.

“The totally new aspect to this job is being thrown onto the level of world leader,” he said. “I’m learning a lot and feeling very challenged, but not overwhelmed."

Aside from Catholics from around the globe, the pontiff also received many birthday wishes from world leaders. Among the first to wish him was Italy's President Sergio Mattarella.

"Since the beginning of your high magisterium, you have delivered to the entire international community and to individual consciences a strong call for that 'unarmed and disarming peace' that opens hearts" Mattarella wrote in his message to the pontiff.

"You have reminded us, with St Augustine, that 'we are the times.' It is up to all of us, and in particular to those who hold public office, to commit ourselves to improving circumstances, reopening horizons of dialogue, justice and concrete protection of the dignity of every person," the Italian head of state added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for her part, issued a special greeting thanking Leo for his preaching, which she said was a source of inspiration. Leo's teachings, she said in a statement, “provide reliable and solid guidance in extremely complex times, when certainties seem to waver and changes are as sudden as they are profound.”

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

"We look back with admiration and emotion on the first months of his ministry. With your visible presence for many believers, your numerous church services, audiences and meetings during the Holy Year, you show that the Church is among the people," wrote Bishop Dr Georg Bätzing on behalf of the entire conference.