Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope celebrates 80th birthday

AFP - Sun Apr 15, 2:22 PM ET

Pope Benedict XVI walks with his pastoral during a mass to mark his 80th birthday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated the Pope on his 80th birthday which the pontiff and pilgrims were celebrating with a mass in Rome's St Peter's Square.(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)


AP Photo: Angelo Carconi

A giant birthday banner is seen in the background as Pope Benedict XVI is driven through the crowd at the end of his birthday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2007. Benedict XVI celebrated his 80th birthday a day early with a Mass in his honor Sunday on the flower-bedecked steps of St. Peter's Square, giving thanks for his long life and the support of the Church.

Reading Eagle
4/15/2007 4:07:00 PM

Pope Celebrates 80th Birthday

Pope Benedict XVI Marks His 80th Birthday a Day Early With Mass on Steps of St. Peter's Square

By FRANCES D'EMILIO Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his 80th birthday a day early with a Mass in his honor Sunday on the flower-bedecked steps of St. Peter's Square.

Cardinals, priests and tens of thousands of faithful joined the pope in prayers of thanks to God for his long life.

Benedict was born in Marktl Am Inn, a riverside town in the Bavaria region of Germany, and sprinkled among the crowd in the square were fellow countrymen and women in traditional dress, including feather-trimmed hats.

Benedict said the faithful had gathered to reflect on what he called his "not brief" life
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 6:08 PM