VATICAN - Happy Birthday, Holy Father! And here's to many more!

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Today, April 16, is the birthday of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who was born in Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany) on April 16, 1927 (Holy Saturday) and was baptized the same day. His father, a policeman, belonged to an old family of farmers from Lower Bavaria of modest economic resources. His mother was the daughter of artisans from Rimsting on the shore of Lake Chiem. On the occasion of his 82nd birthday, and just a few days before the 4th anniversary of his election as Pope on April 19, Agenzia Fides would like to convey their most heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the entire missionary world, accompanying His Holiness Benedict XVI with their prayers: “Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.” (Agenzia Fides 16/4/2009)