In Vatican City, Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday with children from a Vatican-run paediatric clinic. They helped him blow out a single candle on a white cake. The children also sang for the pope and presented him with a bouquet of sunflowers.
During a traditional Christmas season event in St. Peter’s Square, the pope blessed tiny statues of the infant Jesus. The statues were held up by children who planned to place them in their nativity scenes at home. The dozens of children in the square greeted the pope with “Buon Compleanno”, which is Italian for Happy Birthday, and held up signs with the same greeting.
Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Italian immigrant stock, was born on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. He was chosen by cardinals as the first pope from Latin America on March 13, 2013.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent her greetings to the pope on a post on the platform X, and thanked him for his “deep commitment to peace”.
The pope’s birthday celebration was captured by Reuters journalist Philip Pullella, with editing by Alison Williams.
