Vatican invites faithful to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI’s 80th birthday .
( Wed.11 April 2007):-The Vatican issued a reminder April 10 saying that Pope Benedict
XVI will mark the occasion of his 80th birthday with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday
April 15 in St. Peter’s Basilica. The celebration falls on the same day the Church
celebrates the second Sunday of Easter, known as “Divine Mercy Sunday. The Mass, which
will begin at 10 A.M.Rome time, will be concelebrated by Cardinals, archbishops and
bishops who head the various Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as the auxiliary
bishops of the Rome diocese. “The Church, both in Rome and in the other parts of
the world, is invited to join the Holy Father - Benedict XVI, to raise to God, a
deep prayer of thanks for his 80th birthday and the second anniversary of his appointment,”
the Vatican Press release reads. Pope Benedict’s birthday actually falls on Monday
the 16th, just three days before the anniversary of his Pontificate April 19. Coinciding
with his birthday, the Vatican will also release the first book written by Cardinal
Joseph Ratzinger since his election to the Pontificate. The book titled “Jesus of
Nazareth,” will initially be released in Italian, German, and Polish.