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Happy Birthday Holy Father!

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

Pope Benedict XVI is presented with a birthday cake on his 83rd birthday at the Vatican April 16 while Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., looks on.

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI received a cake on his 83rd
birthday from the U.S.-based Papal Foundation, which also
presented him with a list of the projects they have funded in
his name this year.

The 120-member group – including Cardinals Justin Rigali of
Philadelphia and Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of
Washington – sang “Happy Birthday” to the pope as they
presented him with the fresh strawberry and kiwi custard
cake. Written on top was the message, “Happy Birthday, Holy
Father.”

There were no candles to blow out, so the pope responded to
the song by giving the group his blessing.

In his formal speech to foundation members, the pope spoke
about the joy of the Easter season, which is built on knowing
that “evil never has the last word, that love is stronger
than death, and that our future and the future of all
humanity lies in the hands of a faithful and provident God.”

The Papal Foundation was established in 1990 and, in the name
of the pope, has given about $60 million in grants for the
building of churches, seminaries, schools, hospitals and
other projects for the care of the poor around the world.

James V. Coffey, foundation vice president, said this year
the foundation distributed 95 grants and 60 scholarships
worth a total of $6.2 million. The scholarships help priests
and nuns studying at the pontifical universities in Rome.

The members also gave the pope a copy of the book, “Peter’s
Partners,” which marks the 20th anniversary of the Papal
Foundation.

The “practical witness of holiness and charity” by Catholics
around the world allows the church to continue to proclaim
the message of hope, he said.

“The Papal Foundation has advanced this mission in a
particular way by supporting a broad spectrum of charities
close to the heart of the successor of Peter,” the pope said.

Pope Benedict asked the foundation members and staff “to pray
for the needs of the universal church and to implore a
renewed outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts of holiness, unity
and missionary zeal upon the whole people of God.”

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