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Ahead of 85th Birthday, Benedict Asks Strength

Pontiff will also mark 7th anniversary as pope

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 15, 2012 8:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – Staring down both his 85th birthday and the seventh anniversary of his papacy, Pope Benedict today asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for both prayers and strength, reports the AP. "Next Thursday, on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of my election to the See of Peter, I ask for your prayers, so that the Lord gives me the strength to fulfill the mission he entrusted to me." Benedict's birthday is tomorrow; the pontiff will celebrate with older brother Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, who has flown in from Germany.

Pope Benedict XVI reads his message during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI reads his message during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.   (Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.   (Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.   (Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Benedict XVI delivers a blessing during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI delivers a blessing during the Regina Coeli prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.   (Gregorio Borgia)
Faithful take picture of Pope Benedict XVI during the Regina Coeli in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
Faithful take picture of Pope Benedict XVI during the Regina Coeli in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 15, 2012.   (Gregorio Borgia)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Nxxxx
Apr 16, 2012 6:30 AM CDT
Who is Strength and what did he ask it?
Steviejeep
Apr 15, 2012 5:47 PM CDT
"I ask for your prayers, so that the Lord gives me the strength to fulfill the mission he entrusted to me."  Apparently that mission includes stealing babies, raping children, and burning Jews. No wonder he' s running out of strength, channeling pure evil is draining.
cheongyei
Apr 15, 2012 12:54 PM CDT
What a silly religion, really.  Imagining that the universe was started by a lonely god and completed in six days, creating humans in his own likeness and giving them paradise then taking it away, requiring a hybrid creature that was half-god/half-man to die so that the rest of us could achieve paradise once more . . . such unimaginably silly science fiction.

 
Pope Benedict XVI • Vatican • birthday • Georg Ratzinger • pope

 
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