Friends celebrating Pope's 70th birthday in the Chicago area, including his brother
Pope Leo XIV, the beloved leader of the Catholic Church, is gearing up for a significant milestone - his 70th birthday. This occasion has sparked a wave of nostalgia and excitement among his friends and followers.
John Prevost, a close friend of the Pope, plans to commemorate the special day by sending a photo of the gathering to Pope Leo. Interestingly, Prevost also possesses a black and white photo believed to be of Pope Leo's ninth birthday.
Pope Leo's educational journey began at Augustinian Villanova University in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1977. He then moved to Rome for further studies and ordination to the priesthood in 1982. His academic pursuits continued at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, where he earned a licentiate and a doctorate in canon law.
Father John Lydon, a retired president of Catholic University of Trujillo, will remember Pope Leo in a special way. He will release a prayer and reflection video called "5 minutes with God" on the occasion of the Pope's 70th birthday this year.
The birthday celebrations in Trujillo, Peru, where Pope Leo led a parish, were a week-long affair. Each of the six zones or little villages-slash-neighbourhoods hosted a night of partying, complete with dinner, homemade birthday cake, and all-night dance parties that started at 10 p.m. and lasted until 6 a.m. The music was contemporary dance music, popular in the '90s, usually from Brazil.
The birthday decorations included lots of balloons that people would pop at the end of a song to punctuate the festivities. Aurelio's Pizza, a place Pope Leo visited before his election, started serving a "Pope-roni" pizza in his honour.
Pope Leo's childhood birthday celebrations were more subdued, with just a cake, presents, and going to bed, according to his brother John Prevost.
However, there is no information available about any organised events by the group of friends of Pope Leo XIV in Trujillo, Peru, during his 70th birthday or before his birthday celebration in the 1990s.
During his visit with young people at the Jubilee of Youth, Pope Leo's vitality was evident. A Church Pop Facebook post commented that everyone should be able to climb stairs like Pope Leo at the age of 69.
Pope Leo XIV, who holds citizenship in Peru, will continue to inspire and lead the Catholic Church as he enters his 70th year. His journey, from his humble beginnings to the highest position in the Church, is a testament to his dedication and faith.
