Overview

• During the noon Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the first U.S.-born pope thanked God, his parents, and those praying for him as crowds held multilingual birthday banners and balloons.
• After an evening commemoration of modern martyrs at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, he shared a simple cake gathering with cardinals and ecumenical guests, the Holy See Press Office said.
• A Portillo’s chocolate cake was delivered to the pope by the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, underscoring his Chicago ties.
• Dolton, Illinois, marked the day with music, prayers, and a balloon release outside his boyhood home, which the village purchased earlier this year to honor its native son.
• Formal greetings arrived from Vatican officials, bishops’ conferences, and world leaders including Italy’s president, the UN secretary-general, and the U.S. secretary of state, as Leo noted a “huge learning curve” in his new diplomatic role.