Benedict XVI celebrates
90th birthday with beer
VATICAN CITY, April 17, 2017 (AP)- Benedict XVI has celebrated his 90th birthday with a glass of beer and the company of visitors from his native Bavaria in Germany.
Benedict sipped the beer alongside his brother, Mgr Georg Ratzinger, and received a gift basket that included pretzels.
The retired pontiff was born on April 16, 1927, in southern Germany. But since the birthday coincided this year with Easter Sunday, the occasion was celebrated on Monday.
On a sunny, mild day, guests sat outside the monastery on Vatican City grounds where Benedict has lived since he became the first pope to resign in 600 years.
Benedict XVI drinks beer
on his 90th birthday
ROME REPORTS
2017-04-18
Benedict XVI received a surprise from his homeland for his 90th birthday. He was visited by the Bavarian prime minister who brought him a basket of bretzen (German soft pretzels).
The pope enjoyed an interlude in the little plaza in front of his Mater Ecclesiae residence entertained with music, dances and typical costumes reminding him of Bavaria.
As in every good German party, he could not miss the toast with beer mug in hand.
He said in brief remarks:
" Bavaria is beautiful; as Creation but the land is especially beautiful because of the church towers, because of the houses and their balconies full of flowers, and because of the good people. It is beautiful, because God is known there. It is known that He created the world, which comes to fruition when we cooperate with God to build it. I thank you with all my heart for this Bavarian presence, which you bring to me. It is a Bavaria that is open to the world, which is lively and joyful. It can be this way precisely because it has its root and foundation in faith."
Of course, Benedict said the best gift was to spend the day with his brother Georg, 93, who came from Regensburg to be with him.
A Bavarian birthday celebration
in Rome for Benedict XVI
Translated from
PASSAUER NEUE PRESSE
April 17, 2017
With bretzen, beer and Bavarian white sausages, visitors from Bavaria greeted Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI on his 90th birthday. Around 50 visitors, including Bavarian politicians and the Bavarian Alpine Guard, travelled to Rome on Easter Monday for the event.
They were led by Bavarian Prime Minister Seehofer and his wife Karin, Bavarian Parliament president Barbara Stamm, Culture Minister Leudwig Apenle, and the chief of staff of the Bavarian Canchellery, Marcel Huber.
The emeritus pope celebrated his actual birthday the day before, Easter Sunday, with his ‘little family’ – his brother Mons Georg Ratzinger, who travelled from Regensburg for the occasion; his personal secretary, Mons. Georg Gaenswein, and the four Memores Domini who have kept house for him since be became Pope in April 2005.
Benedict thanked his Bavarian guests warmly “for the presence of Bavaria, which you have brought to me”, saying that in his heart, he is always in Bavaria. Later, he sang along in the Bavarian state hymn, "
Gott mit Dir, du Land der Bayern" (God is with you, land of Bavaria).
Seehofer said later, “We are very proud of our pope”, and said he was very glad to find Benedict XVI so well and bright as ever, and that he was, as always, very well-informed. He said they exchanged views about world matters.
Link to Bavarian state TV video of the event:
http://www.br.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/nachrichten/benedikt-xvi-geburtstag-besuch-bayern-100.html
Papa Ratzinger:
‘I have lived through difficult times;
but God has seen me through them’
Translated from the Italian service of
April 17, 2017
“My heart is full of gratitude for the 90 years that the good God has given me. There have been trials and difficult times, but he has always guided me and seen me through, so that I could proceed on my way”.
Thus spoke Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI yesterday, Easter Monday, during a celebration of his 90th birthday with a delegation from his homeland of Bavaria led by Horst Seehofer, Prime Minister of Bavaria, with 30 members of the Bavarian Alpine Guard.
Also present at the festivity were the pope’s brother, Mons. Georg Ratzinger, who came from Regensburg specially for this occasion, and Mons. Georg Gaenswein, Prefect of the Pontifical Household and Benedict’s private secretary.
In his remarks, Benedict XVI said:
“I am full of gratitude above all that I was given such a beautiful homeland which now you have brought to me. Bavaria is beautiful by Creation, and the land is also beautiful for its church towers, for its balconies full of flowers, and for its good people. Bavaria is beautiful because there, God is known, it is known he created this world and that the world is good when we build it up together with him…
I thank you all for bringing Bavaria to me, the Bavaria that is open to the world, lively, happy, and which is happy because its roots are grounded in the faith. To all of you, vergelt’s Gott [“May God reward you”, a beautiful Bavarian way to say ‘Thank you’], starting from the leadership of Bavaria, and to you all. I am happy that we have been able to reunite once again until this beautiful Roman sky of blue, which with its white clouds reminds us of Bavaria’s blue-and-white state flag.
I wish you all the blessings of God. Please bring back my greetings to those at home, my gratitude, and with what pleasure I continue in my heart to walk around and experience our land, and I hope it will always be what it is. Vergelt’s Gott”.
THE PHOTOS (courtesy of
LA REPUBBLICA:]
A 6-MINUTE VIDEO FROM BAYERISCHE RUNDFUNK:
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 22/04/2017 05:51]