Leo turns 70: What it means to have a (relatively) young pope

['Colleen Dulle', 'More Colleen Dulle', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] America Magazine 2025-09-12 00:00:00

Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on Sunday, Sept. 14, his first birthday since ascending to the throne of St. Peter. During a conclave, a cardinal’s age is one of the key factors the voting cardinals use in deciding whether or not he is “papabile” (literally, “pope-able”). Pope Leo XIV catches a crocheted Pope Leo doll tossed to him as he rode in the popemobile around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 28, 2025. The central question about Pope Leo’s age, following his election, is how it might affect how he governs the church. Unlike his predecessor, Pope Leo does not seem to be in a rush.