Pope marks 77^th birthday with employees and homeless

December 17, 2013 - Pope Francis chose to celebrate his 77th birthday in a family atmosphere with a Mass Tuesday morning which was attended by some of his close collaborators, employees of the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta where he resides as well as three homeless people who live in the streets around the Vatican. One of the homeless brought along his dog. After Mass, those present sang and wished the Pope for his birthday. In return, the Pope met each one of them, inviting all to breakfast with him. The Pope’s homily at Mass was based on the Gospel passage on the genealogy of Jesus, saying God never leaves us alone, but always walks with us. To those who look down upon this genealogy as a type of telephone list, the Pope said it is something very important, it is pure history. Jesus is consubstantial with the Father and also with the Mother, a woman. And in this consubstantiality of the mother, God became part of our history and is with us, walking with us. After man’s first sin in Paradise, the Pope explained, God walked with man, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and so forth, and God wanted to save us being part of history. This history that “goes from holiness to sin” includes both saints and sinners, whom he never abandons. Saying that God is consubstantial with us, the Pope said, he is part of our history. When God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He does not provide a surname. This surname, the Pope explained, is each one of us. Each one of us by name is God’s surname. And ours is a history of grace and sin with God behind us. This is the humility, patience and love of God, the Pope said, urging all allow God to write our history