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Pope celebrates 85th birthday

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Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 8, 2012. The Pope called or an end to the violence in Syria in his annual Easter Mass message. UPI/Stefano Spaziani
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 8, 2012. The Pope called or an end to the violence in Syria in his annual Easter Mass message. UPI/Stefano Spaziani 
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Published: April 16, 2012 at 1:59 PM

VATICAN CITY, April 16 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI accepted greetings on his 85th birthday Monday, and said he is inspired to go on by "the light of God."

The Vatican has encouraged followers to send birthday wishes by e-mail and is denying speculation the pope's apparent frailty might lead to his resignation, the ANSA news agency reported Monday.

"I find myself in the last stretch of the course of my life and I do not know what awaits me," the pope said in a statement. "I do know, however, that there is the light of God, and that He is risen."

"The Church is celebrating with joy as birthday greetings arrive from all over the world. The pope is leading us with great strength, kindness and faith, and therefore he is a gift from God," Federico Lombardi of the Holy See's Press Office told Vatican radio.

The birthday comes three days before the seventh anniversary of Benedict XVI's election to replace John Paul II.

Topics: Federico Lombardi, John Paul II
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