As per tradition, both the day of the election and the Pope's name day become Vatican public holidays.
Accordingly, employees will have time off on May 8th from 2026. On this day in 2025, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and Leo XIV took office as the 267th pope in the history of the Church.
Leo, whose real name is Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his name day on September 17th. This is the feast day of St Robert Bellarmine.
A member of the Society of Jesus, St. Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a brilliant intellectual, professor, and preacher, engaged in the theological struggle against Protestants in the service of the papacy.
St. Robert Bellarmine is remembered for his intellectual rigour, commitment to the Church, and dedication to serving the poor. His writings continue to be studied for their theological depth and clarity, making him one of the leading figures in Catholic thought during and after the Counter-Reformation. His approach to debates, characterised by charity and respect, solidifies his reputation as a saint and teacher in the Church.
He was responsible for a revision of the Vulgate translation of the Bible and numerous works, including a catechism that enjoyed great success.
He could have been elected pope in 1605 were it not for Spain’s veto. He also took part in the judicial proceedings against Galileo and the Giordano Bruno.
Marking the Pope's baptismal name
Tradition holds that neither the reigning pope’s birthday nor the feast attached to his papal name (currently Leo the Great, December 10) is marked with a public holiday, but rather the feast corresponding to his baptismal first name.
Only the first given name counts, as was the case for Francis, baptised Jorge Mario Bergoglio. During his pontificate, the feast of St. George was celebrated as a holiday on April 23rd. Under John Paul II, baptised Karol Wojtyła, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo was observed, November 4th.
Under Benedict XVI, employees lost a non-working day, since the feast of St. Joseph (March 19th), as well as St. Joseph the Worker (May 1st), were already holidays in the Vatican.
