Pope Francis blows out birthday candle on massive pizza
Pope Francis celebrates his 81st birthday surrounded by children (Picture: Getty) Pope Francis blew ..
Pope Francis blew out his 81st birthday candle on a giant pizza surrounded by kids.
He told the children around him to make sure they ‘eat all four metres’ as it will make them grow strong.
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Thousands of children in St Peter’s Square later sang happy birthday as the pope waved from his window overlooking the square.
In keeping with a long-standing tradition in Rome, the children faced the pope’s window and held up small statues of the baby Jesus for him to bless.
The statues are placed in home nativity scenes, a custom still practised in many Italian families.
Francis, who has often warned against excessive materialism during the holiday season, said: ‘This is the real Christmas. If we remove Jesus, what is left? An empty feast.’
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Pizzas are often baked in long form for parties in Italy, instead of their typically round shape.
The first Latin American pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires.
The former cardinal of the Argentine capital became leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in 2013.
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