Pope celebrates his 71st birthday but it’s Vatican employees who get the gift — Live Feedhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/pope-celebrates-his-71st-birthday-but-it-s-vatican-employees-who-get-the-giftContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. Pope Leo XIV Reverses Pandemic-Era Pay Cuts for Vatican Staffhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/pope-celebrates-his-71st-birthday-but-it-s-vatican-employees-who-get-the-gifthttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/pope-celebrates-his-71st-birthday-but-it-s-vatican-employees-who-get-the-gift#u72692Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:05:04 +0000Pope Leo XIV marked his 71st birthday by canceling pandemic-era salary cuts for Vatican employees, including cardinals and senior officials. The wage containment measures had originally been approved in 2021. Instead of receiving gifts for his birthday, the Pope delivered financial relief directly to the workforce. Scholars note this decision may also influence broader views of Catholics. The reversal signals a shift in financial policies within the Vatican under the current leadership.Why it mattersThe cancellation undoes financial restrictions put in place during the height of the COVID-19 p