Pope celebrates his 71st birthday but it’s Vatican employees who get the gift

Pope Leo XIV marked his 71st birthday on Monday, but it was the Vatican employees who received the birthday gift. The Holy See announced a reversal of the 2021 salary cuts imposed by Pope Francis, which had caused discontent among many Vatican workers. Leo acknowledged that the cuts were necessary during the pandemic, but he deemed them no longer required.

The Pope himself is known for his financial acumen and has made efforts to rectify some of Francis' financial decisions. While visiting the Vatican Apostolic Library, Leo opened an exhibition about water and expressed his appreciation for the staff, mentioning that his mother was a librarian.