Pope's birthday like any other day, but with cake, spokesman says

Published: 2004-05-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although there was a birthday cake and a special lunch, Pope John Paul II's birthday also was "an ordinary day of work," the Vatican spokesman said. The pope celebrated his 84th birthday May 18. "For the Holy Father it will be an ordinary day of work and, especially, of thanking God for the gift of life," said Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Vatican spokesman. The only change from the pope's normal schedule, he said, was that the pope had invited "his closest collaborators from the Curia" to lunch. The spokesman said birthday greetings from heads of state and from individuals around the world had arrived in the pope's mailbox. An e-mail address was open as well. As it does on special occasions, the Vatican's Internet office opened a special electronic address -- john_paul_ii@vatican.va -- for papal birthday greetings.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .