Happy Name Day Pope Leo XIV - a Holiday at the Vatican!

The name day of Pope Leo XIV is the Feast Day of Saint Robert Bellarmine, September 17. Pope Leo XIV was born with the baptismal name of Robert Francis Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955. In the Vatican, the name day of a reigning pontiff, with respect to his baptismal name, is celebrated as a holiday. 

Before departing, Castel Gandolfo, on Sept. 16, the crowd offered chants of “happy birthday” and “happy name day”—the latter marking September 17, the feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine—and a group of Polish faithful presented the Pope with a bouquet and a note. (Vatican News)

PRAYER for POPE LEO XIV: O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Leo, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

During Pope Francis' pontificate, April 23rd, the feast day of Saint George, was his name day as he was born with the name Jorge (George) Bergoglio. However, during the time of Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, there was no extra holiday as both feast days of Saint Joseph, March 19 and May 1, were already holidays.  (Vatican News)

St. Robert Bellarmine was a doctor of the Church and nephew of a Pope! Patron Saint of catechists, canon Lawyers and catechumens. A distinguished Jesuit theologian, writer, and cardinal, born at Montepulciano, 4 October, 1542; died 17 September, 1621. His mother Cinthia Cervini, sister of Cardinal Marcello Cervini, who later became Pope Marcellus II. He was brought up at the newly founded Jesuit college in his native town, and entered the Society of Jesus on 20 September, 1560, being admitted to his first vows on the following day. He quickly obtained a reputation both as a professor and a preacher, in the latter capacity drawing to his pulpit both Catholics and Protestants, even from distant parts. (Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia excerpt New Advent)

List of the annual public holidays established by the Holy See on which all offices within the Vatican City remain closed.
Festivities that vary each year are Easter and, as a result, Ascension Day and Corpus Christi.
Every Sunday Lord’s Day
1 January New Year’s Day
6 January Epiphany
11 February Anniversary of the establishment of the Vatican City State with the Lateran Pacts
13 March Anniversary of the election of Pope Francis
19 March Saint Joseph Patron of the Church
Easter Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday (varies between the 22 March and 25 April)
1 May Saint Joseph Artisan
Ascension Day Varies: 40 days after Easter Sunday
Corpus Christi Varies: the Thursday after the Holy Trinity
29 June Feast of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles, Patrons of Rome
14 August Saint Maximilian
15 August Assumption of the Virgin Mary
16 August Saint Stephen of Hungary

17 September Saint Robert Bellarmine
1 November All Saints’ Day
2 November All Souls’ Day
8 December Immaculate Conception
24 December Christmas Eve
25 December Christmas
26 December Saint Stephen
27 December Saint John the Evangelist
31 December Saint Sylvester

Source: https://easydiplomacy.com/en/info-directory/factsheets/vatican/public-holidays/

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-09/pope-leo-xiv-castel-gandolfo-nato-poland-gaza-war.html