Today, Benedict XVI, pilgrim in the USA, turns 81. Born in Marktl am Inn, in the German diocese of Passau, on April 16th 1927, Holy Saturday, Joseph Ratzinger was ordained priest on June 29th 1951 and bishop on May 28th 1977. Made cardinal at the Consistory of June 27th 1977, he became Pope on April 19th 2005 and began his papacy on April 24th the same year. "This birthday, right at the start of his eighth apostolic journey comments SIR , combines the joy for the gift of a Pope, whose sweetness in communicating is equal to his clarity of mind and consistency with the Gospel, with gratitude for the testimony he offers in choosing and pointing at dialogue between faith and religion as the way to go. A dialogue, which, even in this journey in the USA and in the visit to the UN, is sought and lived especially in the encounter with the faces. In the footsteps of Paul VI and John Paul II, in announcing the Word, he speaks out for human rights, the dignity of the human being, the holiness of life at every season and in every corner of the earth".
"Passion for the truth goes on SIR is in Benedict XVI the strong thread that did and does bind his life to God and man. Seeking the truth in order to share it is the appeal the Pope makes, aware and certain that this search will lead to the only encounter that can steer history towards good, peace and justice".
