Pope Leo XIV will be 70: This differentiates him from Francis

Pope Leo XIV celebrates his 70th birthday four months after he was elected Pope. On September 14th there is probably not only a festival in the Vatican. Family and friends will also think of him in Chicago, the hometown of Robert Francis Prevost. Just like in Peru, where the former head of the Augustinian order from 2015 to 2023 acted as a Bishop of Chiclayo and previously worked as a missionary, priest and as a provincial superior of the Augustiner.

There were times when today’s Pope, who also has Peruvian citizenship, celebrated his birthday “for a week” for about ten years, he lived together with Prevost in the training house of her order in the coastal town of Trujillo in Peru. The reason for the long festival: Everyone wanted to celebrate the birthday of today’s Pope “because they appreciated him very much”.

At home in Chicago, Prevost grew up in the nearby suburb of Dolton, the birthday parties were far more reserved in childhood by Pope Leo, at least according to his brother John Prevost. He revealed that the festivals in the family had expired “as normal”: “You got a cake, opened a gift and then went to bed.” This year, family is planning – the Pope has two older brothers – and close friends to honor the head of the church at a meal.

Will the Pope celebrate his 70th birthday big? So far, little is known about the life of the new Pontifex, which initially studied mathematics and philosophy, then theology and canon law. In contrast to his predecessor Pope Francis (1936-2025), Leo XIV will probably live in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. According to his move -in later this year, he could be accompanied by a number of “roommates”.

According to “La Repubblica”, ten rooms of the Apostolic Palace are renovated, with three or four allegedly being prepared for his brothers so that they can move in with it. Edgard Rimaycuna, the 35-year-old Peruvian private secretary of the Pope, is one of the people who are expected to be invited. Leo’s plans could be related to his order in which life in the community is valued. “I will have to do without a lot,” said Leo XIV after his choice. “My life has changed, but I will never stop being Augustiner.”

“In my opinion, Leo definitely differs from Francis, but not so much”,: “He returns to the papal rooms, but not like a king.” The Pope is currently still living in a building next to St. Peter’s Square.

According to Father James Martin, the fact that Leo will not live like his predecessor in the simpler Vatican guest house in Santa Marta, and also no sign that Leo did not want to live “simply”, and added: “We have to trust Pope Leo’s judgment in this and all other matters.”

Unlike Francis, Leo also took a summer break in the Papstresidency Castel Gandolfo. Christopher White, author of the book “Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy”, described Franziskus as an extroverted person who “liked to be among people”, while Leo is “introverted”: “He is a very quiet manager, someone who likes to do his homework.” The Pope is thinking “how he wants to tackle things and keeps up”.

The new Pope has already been involved in world politics. He met twice with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj and phoned the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leo also criticized Israeli warfare in Gaza.

And even if the new Pope is currently still reluctant, he has already held numerous audiences. The 70-year-old also spoke to a few celebrities, including the astronaut Buzz Aldrin or e-playing Al Pacino.