CHICAGO, United States. The village of Dolton, a suburb south of Chicago where Pope Leo XIV grew up, celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday with gospel music, prayers, and a balloon release outside his childhood home.
A modest crowd gathered at the brick house where the former Robert Prevost lived after being born in Chicago in 1955. “It’s a good time for the community to come together,” said Village President Jason House. “It shows that great people come out of the village of Dolton.”
In July, the village purchased the three-bedroom home in hopes of attracting tourism and highlighting its connection to papal history, as Leo is the first American pope. Officials also said the initiative was meant to promote a positive image of the community, which has faced political turmoil in recent years, including allegations of misspending under a previous mayor. They attempted to contact the pope but did not receive a response.
When elected in May at age 69, Leo became the youngest pope since 1978, when Karol Wojtyla was chosen as Pope John Paul II at 58. He holds dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship after spending two decades as a missionary in Peru.
In Illinois, photos of Leo as a child and as pope were displayed during the celebration, which included an a cappella rendition of “Break Every Chain,” Stevie Wonder’s version of “Happy Birthday,” and the release of silver star-shaped balloons. Attendees also prayed for his health and leadership.
Meanwhile, at the Vatican, the pope’s birthday was marked during his traditional noon blessing, where banners in English, Italian, and Spanish reading “Happy birthday” were displayed, along with balloons held aloft in St. Peter’s Square.
Dolton, once a small, mostly white town of a few thousand, has since grown into a community of about 20,000 residents, the majority of whom are Black.
“We hope people feel welcome,” House said.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
