For Braden, an ordinary teenager from Tulsa, Oklahoma, turning 18 became an unforgettable encounter with the Holy Father.
Braden celebrated his birthday on August 5 while visiting the Vatican. Because the day fell on a Wednesday—the day Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly audience with the faithful—Braden was one of the lucky visitors in St. Peter’s Basilica who had the opportunity to greet the pope personally.
@braden_8096 That time I met the pope and he gave me a birthday gift #popeleoxiv ♬ Amore mio aiutami - Version 3 - Piero Piccioni
As Pope Leo XIV approached to shake his hand, Braden excitedly told him, “Holy Father, today is my birthday.”
“Whoa, happy birthday!” the pope replied. “How many years?”
“Eighteen,” Braden answered.
Pope Leo then asked where the young man was from.
“Oklahoma,” Braden said.
“Tulsa or Oklahoma City?” the pope asked.
“Tulsa,” Braden replied.
Fr. Marco Billeri, Pope Leo XIV’s second personal secretary, overheard the exchange and happily retrieved a blessed rosary for the teen. Pope Leo handed the rosary to Braden, telling him, “For your birthday.”
The video of the exchange quickly went viral on TikTok, where viewers praised Fr. Marco’s kindness and attentiveness in helping make Braden’s birthday even more memorable. Braden later shared a follow-up in the comments, posting a photo of the opened rosary box to give viewers a closer look at the blessed gift Pope Leo XIV had given him.
The reaction from the internet was overwhelmingly positive with TikTok users sharing their own experiences with family members gifting them precious Catholic items, and others meeting different popes.
One user shared:
My dad & I were Blessed and given Rosaries by St John Paul II in 1995 in the Vatican. It is one of my most cherished possessions 🙏🙏🙏
Another user wrote:
I received this rosary from my grandmother; it was blessed by John Paul
Even nonbelievers were chiming in to express what an amazing experience Braden shared with everyone. One said, “I’m not Catholic anymore but if the pope gave me a rosary I’d treasure that FOR LIFE.”
What began as an 18th birthday trip to Rome became a moment Braden will likely never forget: a personal greeting, birthday wishes, and a blessed rosary from the pope himself.