(ANS – Rome) – On the 16th of April 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in Baviera, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was born. On the 19th of April 2005 he was elected by the Conclave to be the 265th Sovereign Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Today Benedict XVI celebrates his 85th  Birthday. The Congregation and Salesian Family unites itself to the whole Church with the birthday greetings of the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva.

On the occasion of the Poe’s birthday the Rector Major Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva stated: “In the name of the Congregation and of the Salesian Family, I express our communion with him in giving thanks to the Lord for the gift of his life, of his exemplary dedication to the service of the Church, highlighting in particular his great and deep convictions such as the relation between faith and reason, the struggle against violence, the role of religions in building up peace and humanity in the world. We wish him years to come of serene and fruitful Petrine ministry.
 
Within the next few days Benedict  XVI will also celebrate the seventh year of his pontificate.

Published 16/04/2012