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Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!
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| Pope Benedict XV acknowledges faithful during his weekly general audience, in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican yesterday. (Andrew Medichini/Associated Press) |
The Pontiff Turns 82 Today
By ERIN MAGUIRE, The Bulletin
Pope Benedict XVI turned 82 today at his tranquil summer residence of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome. The pontiff is taking a “brief rest” there after ministering to his flock during a tiring Holy Week, according to a Vatican statement. His birthday this year contrasts with the Roman Catholic leader’s 81st birthday, which was celebrated with fanfare at the White House.
“In his recent message to the city and to the world, ‘Urbi et Orbi,’ Pope Benedict XVI urged all people to live in peace and solidarity, proclaiming Christ’s gift of hope to the world. And as the year of St. Paul comes to a close, Pope Benedict has announced another great sign of hope for the world, a Jubliee Year of the Priest beginning June 19, 2009,” said James V. Coffey M.A., vice president of Bala Cynwyd-based The Papal Foundation, recalling the pope’s recent accomplishments.
“The birthday wish for Pope Benedict from Christians and people of goodwill could be for prayers for strength and wisdom for the pope as he points the world toward the one who gives true hope, Jesus Christ,” Mr. Coffey said. “Happy Birthday, Holy Father!”
Born Joseph Ratzinger to parents with modest economic resources, the pope grew up in Traunstein, Germany, a small village near the Austrian border. His father was a policeman, and his mother worked as a cook at various hotels before she married. The Pope’s Christian, cultural and human formation at home prepared him for the cruel experience of the Nazi regime during his youth and served as the foundation for his priestly vocation.
As a young man, the pope observed the Nazis’ harsh treatment toward Catholics; he saw some Nazis beat his parish priest before the celebration of Mass. Yet, this experience and his family’s constant witness to the faith served to strengthen the Pope’s own belief in Christ as the redeemer of the world.
From 1946 to 1951, he studied philosophy and theology in the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology of Freising and at the University of Munich. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951.
As Fr. Ratzinger, he taught at various universities in the 1960s. From 1962 to 1965, he served as an “expert” during Vatican II; he was theological advisor of Cardinal Joseph Frings, archbishop of Cologne at the council.
Pope Paul VI named then Archbishop Ratzinger a cardinal in 1977. In 1978, he served in the conclaves that elected John Paul I and John Paul II. Cardinal Ratzinger succeeded Pope John Paul II and became the 265th pope on April 19, 2005.
Throughout his papacy and priesthood, the pope has contributed to the Church widely through writings. As pope, he wrote two encyclicals Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) and Spe Salvi Facti Sumus (In Hope We Are Saved). His book Jesus of Nazareth was published in 2007 as the first in a trilogy.
At yesterday’s audience, the Pope reminded faithful of the Easter message of joyful hope in Jesus’ resurrection.
“The Easter Sequence sings the victory of the Lord of life who, after a heroic struggle with death, now lives triumphant,” he told a crowd at Castel Gandolfo. “After the Via Crucis of Good Friday, our solemn Easter Vigil sets us on a Via Lucis marked by consolation, peace and hope.”
The Pope also encouraged Christians to live in a way that shows others the reason for their hope.
“It is fundamental for our faith and our Christian witness that we proclaim the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as a real, historical event,” the pope said. “His resurrection was not a simple return to existence, but an entrance into a new dimension of life meant to transform every human being, all history and the whole cosmos. By dying he put an end to death, and by rising he brought new life to the world. May the joy of the resurrection of Christ give us courage to live his Gospel faithfully and bear witness to it generously!”
He will make a six-day trip to the Holy Land meeting with religious leaders, government officials and refugees beginning May 8.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
“In his recent message to the city and to the world, ‘Urbi et Orbi,’ Pope Benedict XVI urged all people to live in peace and solidarity, proclaiming Christ’s gift of hope to the world. And as the year of St. Paul comes to a close, Pope Benedict has announced another great sign of hope for the world, a Jubliee Year of the Priest beginning June 19, 2009,” said James V. Coffey M.A., vice president of Bala Cynwyd-based The Papal Foundation, recalling the pope’s recent accomplishments.
“The birthday wish for Pope Benedict from Christians and people of goodwill could be for prayers for strength and wisdom for the pope as he points the world toward the one who gives true hope, Jesus Christ,” Mr. Coffey said. “Happy Birthday, Holy Father!”
Born Joseph Ratzinger to parents with modest economic resources, the pope grew up in Traunstein, Germany, a small village near the Austrian border. His father was a policeman, and his mother worked as a cook at various hotels before she married. The Pope’s Christian, cultural and human formation at home prepared him for the cruel experience of the Nazi regime during his youth and served as the foundation for his priestly vocation.
As a young man, the pope observed the Nazis’ harsh treatment toward Catholics; he saw some Nazis beat his parish priest before the celebration of Mass. Yet, this experience and his family’s constant witness to the faith served to strengthen the Pope’s own belief in Christ as the redeemer of the world.
From 1946 to 1951, he studied philosophy and theology in the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology of Freising and at the University of Munich. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951.
As Fr. Ratzinger, he taught at various universities in the 1960s. From 1962 to 1965, he served as an “expert” during Vatican II; he was theological advisor of Cardinal Joseph Frings, archbishop of Cologne at the council.
Pope Paul VI named then Archbishop Ratzinger a cardinal in 1977. In 1978, he served in the conclaves that elected John Paul I and John Paul II. Cardinal Ratzinger succeeded Pope John Paul II and became the 265th pope on April 19, 2005.
Throughout his papacy and priesthood, the pope has contributed to the Church widely through writings. As pope, he wrote two encyclicals Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) and Spe Salvi Facti Sumus (In Hope We Are Saved). His book Jesus of Nazareth was published in 2007 as the first in a trilogy.
At yesterday’s audience, the Pope reminded faithful of the Easter message of joyful hope in Jesus’ resurrection.
“The Easter Sequence sings the victory of the Lord of life who, after a heroic struggle with death, now lives triumphant,” he told a crowd at Castel Gandolfo. “After the Via Crucis of Good Friday, our solemn Easter Vigil sets us on a Via Lucis marked by consolation, peace and hope.”
The Pope also encouraged Christians to live in a way that shows others the reason for their hope.
“It is fundamental for our faith and our Christian witness that we proclaim the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as a real, historical event,” the pope said. “His resurrection was not a simple return to existence, but an entrance into a new dimension of life meant to transform every human being, all history and the whole cosmos. By dying he put an end to death, and by rising he brought new life to the world. May the joy of the resurrection of Christ give us courage to live his Gospel faithfully and bear witness to it generously!”
He will make a six-day trip to the Holy Land meeting with religious leaders, government officials and refugees beginning May 8.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
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aspad2 wrote on Apr 16, 2009 11:08 AM: