Rome, Dec 7, (dpa/GNA) – Benedict XVI, the 94-year-old pope emeritus, offered his congratulations to Pope Francis on his 85th birthday, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, Benedict’s long-time personal secretary, told dpa on Friday.
Gaenswein did not offer any further details about the message sent by Benedict, a native of Germany, to his successor but said the two, were planning to see each other soon.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. He is known for taking a low-key approach to his birthday, usually treating it as a normal working day.
Last year, according to the Vatican, Francis celebrated in prayer and with the people he lives with at his Casa Santa Marta residence near St Peter’s Basilica.
Benedict has been living in the Vatican’s Mater Ecclesiae monastery since his resignation in February 2013. He was the first pope to step down in nearly 600 years.
According to Gaenswein, the retired pope is doing well for his age and retains “a clear, sharp mind.”
GNA