Happy Birthday Papa B!!!!!

I would like to wish a very happy birthday to the Holy Father Benedict XVI.  Since his election to lead the see of Peter just short of seven years ago he has been a beacon of hope to the Catholic faithful.

Some highlights and travels of Benedict XVI’s reign:

April 19, 2005: Elected to lead the see of Peter on the fourth ballot of the 2005 Papal Conclave.

April 24 2005, Formally  formally inaugurated as Supreme Pontiff.

August 19-20 2005: Visits his native Germany for the 20th World Youth Day.

January 25, 2006: Published his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love).  

May 15, 2007: Publishes book Jesus of Nazareth

July 7, 2007: Issued his Motu proprio Summonum Pontifium allowing for much wider use of the extraordinary form of the mass.

November 30, 2007: Published his second encyclical, Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope)

April 15-21 2008: Visits the United States cities of Washington DC and New York holding mass on the National Mass and Yankee Stadium.

May 8-15 2009, Visits the Holy Land

July 7, 2009: Published his third encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth)

September 19, 2010: Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman

March 10, 2011: Publishes book Jesus Of Nazareth Vol. 2

May 1, 2011: Beatification of John Paul II

V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

Our Father, Hail Mary.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Excerpted from the Roman Missal. A partial indulgence is attached to the versicle and response.