Pope greeted on birthday by Italy’s top leaders & well wishers.

(April,16,2009): Pope Benedict XVI turned 82 on Thursday, 16th April. However, a day earlier on Wednesday, over 40 thousand pilgrims attending his weekly general audience in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, sang him Happy Birthday wishes in English.. On Sunday, he marks the 4^th anniversary of his election as Pontiff.
Vatican media noted the milestones on Wednesday, with the official Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, running a front-page birthday greeting in Latin, which read: “Ad multos annos, sancte pater,” or “Many happy returns, Holy Father.” Vatican Radio also ran a birthday special, an interview with papal spokesman Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, in which, he acknowledged that the most difficult period of the past year was the Vatican's decision to remove the excommunication of a bishop, who denied the Holocaust. Despite the outcry that ensued, he said Pope Benedict's decision was guided by his overall desire to “bring men back to God and God back to men.”
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano sent his best wishes for the Pope’s birthday, as well as for the 4th anniversary of his pontificate. In his message, Italy’s President said “the Easter festivities coincided this year at a particularly sad moment for our country, hit in the central Abruzzo region by a violent earthquake, that claimed the lives of numerous people and inflicted suffering on thousands.” Napolitano stressed that the Pope’s personal participation with the grieving families brought them great comfort and encouraged them to accept his message of hope that accompanies the feast of Easter.
Greetings for the Pope’s birthday also came from the President of the Chamber of Deputies – Gianfranco Fini, who sent a message saying - “I am certain that the high mission of the pontifical magesterium with its rich spiritual forces and the testimony of his teaching, will spread through entire Humanity the message of love that comes from the Gospel.”
Italy’s Minister of Defence Ignazio La Russa also sent a telegram of good wishes in the name of the Armed Forces. And the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, along with his wishes for the Pope’s birthday and the 4th anniversary of his pontificate, also sent a book titled, “Bishop of Rome. Benedict XVI in Campidoglio”.It was compiled by Rome’s City Administration together with Vatican’s Publishing House, covering the recent visit of the Pope to Rome’s Capitol Square.
The Pope spent a quiet birthday with his close collaborators at his summer residence in Castelgondolfo, where he is resting after the hectic activities of the Holy Week.