The Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is just one of the many people congratulating Pope Benedict XVI on his 85th birthday. Bishop Brian Farrell said his Council “is very much impressed and close to the Holy Father in these days as he celebrates these important moments in his life.”
In thanking the Pope for his pastoral leadership in the search for unity among all Christians around the world, Bishop Farrell said he hoped the upcoming Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland this June “will be a moment of deep reflection on the process through which the Church in Ireland and in many other countries of the world is passing as it seeks to bring new answers to the difficulties that arise and the situations that make it hard for people today to give time and input to the spiritual element of their lives.”
More wishes…“We wish the Holy Father a happy birthday,” said the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Francis Arinze. “Our wishes for him are of joy, peace, and his seeing the faith in Christ make great progress, that faith for which the pope sacrifices himself totally.”
He told Vatican Radio the whole Church is united with the Holy Father on this day.
“We wish him joy, we wish him good health, and we wish him also that peace that will come from knowing he is doing God’s will, and that the bishops, priests, and the whole Church are united with him,” Cardinal Arinze said. “It will indeed be for the Pope a Happy Birthday.”
We also take the opportunity to send best wishes to the Pope on his birthday. We also assure him of our prayers.