While the Pope marked his birthday and patronal feast day this week, it was the cardinals and the Vatican who appeared to take receipt of any gifts, whilst Emmanuel Macron was instead served a polite but firm snub.
Leo XIV turned 71 on September 14 and a few days later celebrated his patronal feast day of St Robert Bellarmine. Vatican custom dictates that such days are held as holidays in the city-state, although regular service did continue to a large extent and the daily press bulletin arrived as normal.
