Pope Leo XIV Marks 71st Birthday at Vatican Library, Scraps Francis-Era Salary Cuts

Pope Leo XIV marked his 71st birthday on Monday with a visit to the Vatican Apostolic Library, where he inaugurated a new exhibition and announced a papal decree reversing salary reductions imposed on Vatican employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pontiff told library staff that his connection to their workplace was personal. "Many of you may not know that my mother was a librarian, and today I'm here on my birthday specifically to say hello to all of you," he said, adding that God in His providence — and sometimes with a touch of humour — reminds the faithful of His presence.

The exhibition, titled Aqva, is the first instalment of a new five-year cycle called "Catastrophe and Marvel." It features a large wave design by French artist JR, mounted with scaffolding on the library's facade. The pope greeted the artist during his visit and toured artefacts on display.

While the birthday celebrations were underway, the day's most consequential announcement came in the form of a decree. The Vatican published the papal document repealing the 2021 salary cuts that Pope Francis had introduced as part of the Holy See's cost-saving measures during the pandemic.

In the decree, Leo said the salary-containing measures "can now be overcome, in the certainty that the institutions of the Holy See and the Vatican City State will continue, through various means, their commitment to ensuring economic sustainability."

The Vatican Apostolic Library and its archive are open to scholars and researchers for study. A small exhibition space within the library is also accessible to the general public on a weekly basis, with reservations and pre-purchased tickets required.