Benedict XVI has beer, party for 90th birthday at Vatican
Posted April 17, 2017 7:00 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Benedict XVI, who resigned as pontiff in 2013, has celebrated his 90th birthday with a mug of beer and the company of visitors from his native Bavaria in Germany.
Photos by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano of the celebration showed Benedict sipping a beer. His brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, also joined the party and enjoyed a beer.
Looking happy, the frail Benedict also admired a gift basket whose goodies included pretzels.
He was born on April 16, 1927, in southern Germany. But since the birthday coincided this year with Easter Sunday, Benedict was feted on Monday.
On a sunny, mild day, guests sat outside the monastery on Vatican City grounds where Benedict has lived since he became the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, stunning the Catholic Church.
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This story has been corrected to show that the gift basket contained pretzels, not sausages.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meets a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI talks with Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer on the occasion of a party for Benedict's 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI waves as he meets a Bavarian delegation on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
From left, Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and his brother Georg sit on the occasion of a party for Benedict's 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
From left, Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and his brother Georg sit on the occasion of a party for Benedict's 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meets a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sits while meeting a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI makes a toast with Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meets a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meets a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI pose with a delegation from Bavaria on the occasion of a party for his 90th birthday, at the Vatican Monday, April 17, 2017. His aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, said Benedict's birthday, which falls on Easter Sunday this year, will be celebrated on Monday in Bavarian style in keeping with the emeritus pontiff's roots. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
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