Celebrating Pope Benedict XVI's 81st Birthday - Roundup

Mark Swaim of the SonRise Morning Show recommends Eight Tips for Celebrating the Pope's Birthday:

3. Pope Benedict (who has an iPod, by the way) loves classical music, especially Mozart and Beethoven. Give them a listen today, and see why the Holy Father loves their music so much.

4. The pope has encouraged all Catholics to learn a couple of prayers in Latin so that when we come together as the world Church, we can pray in the same language. Try memorizing the "Glory Be" in Latin today: Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et in semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

5. Read Deus Caritas Est or Spe Salvi - two outstanding encyclicals that show not only Pope Benedict's great insight into the theological virtues of hope and love, but also show how clearly he is able to express himself. Download them here and here. ...

(Via Rich Leonardi).

Pope Benedict XVI blows a candle on a cake prepared at the White House to celebrate his birthday, in Washington April 16, 2008.

• White House Flowers, Hymns, Cake for Birthday Pope, by Paul Bedard. U.S. News April 15, 2008.
• Choir greets pope by singing Happy Birthday Associated Press April 16, 2008 - About 130 children from Annunciation Catholic School in northwest Washington sang Happy Birthday to Pope Benedict XVI outside the papal embassy.
• Pope’s brother sends birthday greetings from Germany Catholic News Agency:

  On Wednesday, April 16, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger sent birthday greetings from his hometown to his brother Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently visiting the United States.

  The 81 year-old Pontiff’s brother wished him “health and strength” and that he would “continue in your work for many years to come,” according to an interview pubished by the German daily Bild.