Catholic World News News Feature

Vatican invites faithful to celebrate Pope's 80th birthday April 10, 2007

The Vatican's liturgical office has issued an invitation to the people of Rome to join Pope Benedict XVI at Mass on Sunday, April 15-- the feast of the Divine Mercy-- to celebrate the Pope's 80th birthday.

Pope Benedict will turn 80 on the following day, April 16. He will be joined at the Sunday Mass by the cardinals and bishops of the Roman Curia as well as the auxiliary bishops of the Rome diocese. The Eucharistic celebration will take place in St. Peter's basilica.

The celebration will also look forward to the 2nd anniversary of the Pope's election, on April 19.