POPE JOHN PAUL II CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, extended his prayers and best wishes, as well as those of the Bishops, priests, deacons and all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in a letter dated May 9, 2000.

The Holy Father will celebrate his 80th birthday on Thursday, May 18, 2000. "It is most appropriate that this milestone in the life of Your Holiness should occur during this Great Year of Jubilee. As you have labored throughout your Pontificate to prepare the entire Church for this year of grace, so now may those works come to fruition as we bear the Light of Christ into the ensuing Third Millennium," wrote Cardinal Bevilacqua. "I personally, am deeply grateful for your leadership. You continue to be for us a loving and courageous shepherd who leads us ever closer to Christ."

Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He was elected Pope on October 16, 1978. In his letter to the Holy Father, Cardinal Bevilacqua offered his continued prayerful support, "I pledge once more my loyalty to you and to the Apostolic See. May God continue to bless Your Holiness with health and peace in your mission as Shepherd of the Universal Church."

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