Benedict XVI, that he may enter the challenging role of leader of the Roman Catholic Church with grace, dignity, compassion and care for his flock all over the world. And a special wish that all people of earth will realize we are part of the holy family of humankind!
"Holy Father, Benedict XVI Through this prayer, with honor we sayMay the Light of all LightsGuide you each daySo your blessings flow overThe world flock in your careEach and every way.Holy Father, Benedict XVI We your children, with honor do prayMay God's grace and loveKeep you safe alwaysClose to the Supreme Heart of HeartsIn peace and joy - wisdom and careAlive in the Lord day to day!"
Pope Benedict XVI (Latin: Benedictus PP. XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church and, as such, Sovereign of the Vatican City State.
He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005. A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded John Paul II.
Happy 83rd Birthday to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his 83rd birthday today. Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Alois Ratzinger) was born on April 16, 1927 at Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany and was baptized on the same day as it was Holy Saturday and in Catholic tradition, children are baptized on Easter Vigil.
His father, Joseph Ratzinger Sr., was a police officer and belonged to a family of peasants while his mother, according to the Pope’s official biography, was the daughter of artisans from Rimsting on the shore of Lake Chiem, and before marrying she worked as a cook in a number of hotels. Joseph Ratzinger’s brother, Georg Ratzinger is a priest and was director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir, a famous church choir in Germany, for quite a long time.
Ratzinger spent his youthful years in tumultuous times. In 1941, a few days after his 14th birthday, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth Movement. Because he was only coerced to join the movement, he refused to participate in the meetings and activities of the group. Later on as a seminarian, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps but a subsequent infirmity did not permit him from fulfilling his military duty.
Joseph and Georg Ratzinger were both ordained in Freising on June 29, 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of Munich.
Ratzinger joined the academic community of the University of Bonn as a theology professor in 1959. During his stint as faculty, he was appointed advisor of the Archbishop of Munich. It was also during this time when he was summoned to be part of the historic Second Vatican Council. From then on, he has been known the world over as a brilliant theologian.
In 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and in 1981, he was summoned by Pope John Paul II to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. After the death of Pope John Paul II, he was elected by the College of Cardinals as the 265th Successor of Peter.
We wish His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI good health and God’s immense blessings on his birthday. May he steadfastly lead the Church worldwide as we face great challenges. Happy 83rd Birthday to our Holy Father!
His father, Joseph Ratzinger Sr., was a police officer and belonged to a family of peasants while his mother, according to the Pope’s official biography, was the daughter of artisans from Rimsting on the shore of Lake Chiem, and before marrying she worked as a cook in a number of hotels. Joseph Ratzinger’s brother, Georg Ratzinger is a priest and was director of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir, a famous church choir in Germany, for quite a long time.
Ratzinger spent his youthful years in tumultuous times. In 1941, a few days after his 14th birthday, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth Movement. Because he was only coerced to join the movement, he refused to participate in the meetings and activities of the group. Later on as a seminarian, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps but a subsequent infirmity did not permit him from fulfilling his military duty.
Joseph and Georg Ratzinger were both ordained in Freising on June 29, 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber of Munich.
Ratzinger joined the academic community of the University of Bonn as a theology professor in 1959. During his stint as faculty, he was appointed advisor of the Archbishop of Munich. It was also during this time when he was summoned to be part of the historic Second Vatican Council. From then on, he has been known the world over as a brilliant theologian.
In 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and in 1981, he was summoned by Pope John Paul II to head the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. After the death of Pope John Paul II, he was elected by the College of Cardinals as the 265th Successor of Peter.
We wish His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI good health and God’s immense blessings on his birthday. May he steadfastly lead the Church worldwide as we face great challenges. Happy 83rd Birthday to our Holy Father!
Pope Benedict Celebrates His 83rd Birthday
April 16, 2010, marks the 83rd anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, better known to the world today as Pope Benedict XVI. Today's celebration will be rather low-key; the Holy Father has returned to the Vatican after spending some time at his summer residence, Castelgandolfo, a little ways south of Rome.
Two years ago, the Holy Father celebrated his 81st birthday during his first apostolic journey to the United States. He had a full schedule that day, including an official welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House and a celebration of vespers (evening prayer) and a meeting with the bishops of the United States at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Two years ago, the Holy Father celebrated his 81st birthday during his first apostolic journey to the United States. He had a full schedule that day, including an official welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House and a celebration of vespers (evening prayer) and a meeting with the bishops of the United States at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Northeast Washington, D.C.
The Holy Father begins his 84th year at one of the most trying times of an extraordinarily difficult pontificate. Inaccurate or downright deceitful reporting of sexual-abuse scandals in the Catholic Church has concealed the fact that no other high-ranking prelate has done as much, both before his election as pope and afterward, to rid the Church of abusive priests. Such headlines, alas, would not sell newspapers; sensationalistic untruths, however, do.
On Monday, when Pope Benedict celebrates the fifth anniversary of his election, I will discuss some of the major initiatives of his very active pontificate. His actions over the past five years have been just what the Church needed; and that, more than anything else, may explain the feeding frenzy among reporters who, to put it mildly, do not care for the theology of Pope Benedict or the Catholic Church.
On the Holy Father's 83rd birthday, please join in showing your support for Pope Benedict and in praying the Knights of Columbus novena for the Holy Father between now and Monday.
May God grant his servant Pope Benedict XVI many more years, as he faithfully preaches the word of His Truth!
On Monday, when Pope Benedict celebrates the fifth anniversary of his election, I will discuss some of the major initiatives of his very active pontificate. His actions over the past five years have been just what the Church needed; and that, more than anything else, may explain the feeding frenzy among reporters who, to put it mildly, do not care for the theology of Pope Benedict or the Catholic Church.
On the Holy Father's 83rd birthday, please join in showing your support for Pope Benedict and in praying the Knights of Columbus novena for the Holy Father between now and Monday.
May God grant his servant Pope Benedict XVI many more years, as he faithfully preaches the word of His Truth!
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