Dozens of small handmade signs and large bold banners waved in the crowd of some 30,000 visitors in St. Peter's Square wishing Pope Leo XIV a happy birthday Sept. 14. Musicians and musical bands in the square struck up the "Happy Birthday" tune, and people sang and clapped along. Meanwhile, children from the Vatican-owned pediatric hospital sent the pope hand-drawn cards and letters, and church leaders around the world also wished the pope a happy birthday, according to Vatican News. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, posted on X, "Happy birthday to Pope Leo XIV! He gave the pope a chocolate cake topped with a metallic red sign saying, "Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV," and handmade cards for the pope's birthday sat alongside the cake, apparently made by some of Ambassador Burch's nine children, who also met the pope.