Pope Francis turns 80
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, turns 80 on Sunday. As the TASS news agency reports he has received birthday wishes from different parts of the world and 1.2 billion Catholics of the world pray for his health.
Born into a family of Italian heritage on December 16, 1936 he became the 266th pope when he was elected on March 13, 2013.
For the Catholic hierarchy, especially those working at the Vatican, 80 is a significant age. When cardinals turn 80, they no longer are members of the Vatican congregations and councils they served, even in retirement. Also, cardinals over 80 are no longer eligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope.
Yet, like Pope Francis, many of the over-80 cardinals have active ministry schedules and continue to travel the world on behalf of the church, their bishops’ conferences and Catholic agencies and organizations.