Vatican city: Pope Benedict XVI asked for
prayers for the church on Friday as he spent his 83rd birthday
quietly working, treated to a cake but otherwise keeping to
his schedule ahead of a weekend pilgrimage to Malta.
The Papal Foundation, an American Catholic fundraising
organization for papal charities, presented the pontiff with a
large cake during its annual visit to Rome and sang ``Happy
Birthday`` to him in English.
In brief remarks thanking the group for its support
for missionaries and other charitable works around the world,
the pontiff made an indirect reference to the clerical sex
abuse crisis buffeting the Catholic church.
"In these days, I ask you to pray for the needs of the
universal church" so it might receive renewed ``holiness,
unity and missionary zeal,`` Benedict said.
The Vatican doesn`t officially celebrate popes`
birthdays. But on Monday - the fifth anniversary of Benedict`s
election as pope - cardinals who live in Rome will offer him a
luncheon in an ornate hall of the papal palace.
His doctors say the pontiff is in generally good
health for his age. But as the clerical sex abuse crisis
batters the church, Benedict has been looking pale and gaunt.
In an editorial today, the newspaper of the Italian
bishops conference, Avvenire, offered Benedict both birthday
wishes and support for ``the insults and attacks`` it says he
has endured in recent weeks.
PTI
