A vast assembly of spiritual gifts from over 2 million contributors across 72 nations is collected for the birth anniversary of the Pope.
In a heartwarming display of unity and devotion, Catholics from around the world came together to celebrate Pope Leo XIV's 70th birthday with a spiritual bouquet. This initiative, organized through a website, aimed to unite people in prayer for Pope Leo on his milestone birthday, his first as the leader of the Catholic Church.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, led the way by adding 1,000,000 works of mercy to the bouquet, a Jubilee Year initiative. This generous contribution was matched by various offerings from individuals and groups across the globe.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pontifical Mission Societies, USA, Relevant Radio, Hallow, the National Eucharistic Revival, the Daughters of St. Paul, Sing the Hours, Pray More Novenas, and the Daily Nothings were among the numerous organizations that supported this initiative.
Bishop William Byrne of Springfield, Massachusetts, added a personal touch to the bouquet. From a local correctional facility, he sent his prayers and well wishes for Pope Leo, and shared a touching story about two inmates who had recently been confirmed with the patron 'Leo.'
The offerings were diverse and numerous. Over 2 million prayers were received, including 1,005,687 rosaries, 6,520 Mass remembrances, 2,485 Chaplets of Divine Mercy, 1,777 Eucharistic Holy Hours, 693 novenas, 644 recitations of the Divine Office, and countless acts of mercy or other prayers.
Many groups documented their participation in the spiritual bouquet initiative on social media. One notable example was a video shared by students from the Catholic campus ministry program at Indiana University in Bloomington, showing more than 220 students eating pizza in honor of Pope Leo. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan also gave a video endorsement for the initiative, which went viral.
Every participant's name was included on the card sent to the Vatican, making it a universal gift. The editor-in-chief of the website expressed gratitude for being able to present this spiritual bouquet to Pope Leo.
The Spiritual Bouquet initiative was a testament to the power of faith and community. It brought together religious orders, lay associations, and influential clergy members, all dedicated to expressing their devotion and honoring Pope Leo through prayers and spiritual offerings.
Pope Leo celebrated his 70th birthday on September 14, and was undoubtedly touched by this global outpouring of love and prayer. The spiritual bouquet served as a reminder of the universal Church's unity and commitment to their spiritual leader.
