Pope Benedict marks 85^th birthday

(April 16, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday celebrated his 85 birthday privately in the Vatican, with Cardinals, delegations from his native southern German state of Bavaria and the papal household felicitating him on the occasion. The Pope was born and baptized Joseph Ratzinger on April 19, 1927, in the town of Marktl am Inn, Bavaria. Pope Benedict celebrated a morning Mass at which were present the cardinals of Rome, bishops of Bavaria and members of the papal household of the Vatican. In a homily, the Pontiff reflected on three road signs that his birth date offered him, namely Sts. Bernadette Soubirous and Benoit Joseph Labre whose feast is marked on April 16. Besides, April 16 was the eve of Easter in 1927. Commenting on St. Bernadette, to whom the Virgin Mary appeared in the southern French village of Lourdes in 1858, the Pope said her simple, pure and uncontaminated heart enabled her to see the Virgin Mary and the beauty and goodness of God despite her poverty and lack of education. Like the spring water that Mary indicated to Bernadette, the Pope said our age and the ages to come need this water that purifies and heals. We too need to yearn for pure life and real truth uncontaminated by corruption, he said. Pope Benedict also expressed appreciation for St. Labre, the 18th century French mendicant pilgrim who went about Europe visiting sanctuaries, bearing witness to the fact that God alone and nothing else matters in this life. St. Labre shows us that one who opens himself to God bring himself closer to world and the people, because God helps break down walls and boundaries and find brothers in all. Speaking about his birth and baptism on the eve of Easter, Pope Benedict gratefully remembered his parents as well as his rebirth in water and the Spirit. The anticipation of the Resurrection amidst the darkness of Easter Eve is the strength that points the way to go ahead, he said and thanked all those who have helped him to forge ahead. Later on Monday, Pope Benedict was felicitated separately by the Bavarian bishops, Minister President Horst Seehofer of Bavaria and another delegation from Bavaria. Meanwhile numerous birthday greetings began pouring in from around the world.