Pope Benedict XVI -Wikimedia commons

For 91st Birthday, Benedict XVI Has Familiar & Quiet Celebration With Brother & Music in the Vatican

Pope Francis Celebrated Morning Mass for Benedict XVI

Share this Entry

Happy Birthday 91st Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI! On Holy Saturday, April 16, 1927, baby Joseph Ratzinger was born in the Bavarian village of Marktl-an-Inn.
According to a note from the Holy See Press Office, Benedict XVI celebrated his 91st birthday today with his brother Georg «in a quiet and familiar atmosphere.» In the evening, it said, the music band of the Pontifical Swiss Guard will play some pieces at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in honor of Pope Emeritus.
Early this morning, the note added, Pope Francis offered Holy Mass for Benedict XVI and later sent him his personal best wishes.

Share this Entry

Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

Support ZENIT

If you liked this article, support ZENIT now with a donation