Today, of course, is Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday, and, as Michael and I have observed many times since 2005, being Pope seems to agre with him – he looks and seems more vigorous than he did three years ago.
Some notes on coverage and the events of the past two days:
*The arrival yesterday was striking for its…efficiency. No speaking, no ceremony to speak of. This morning when I was flipping around, waiting for the welcoming ceremony to begin, Fr. Neuhaus on EWTN observed that it looked to him that the Pope almost expected to go over and greet the crowd (800) gathered to meet him at Andrews – he said the Pope seemed, by his body language, to be leaning over that way, but it just didn’t happen. I didn’t watch it, so I can’t say.

*The spontaneous singing of Happy Birthday in the middle of the ceremony somehow came off better than the final, rehearsed version, I thought. The Pope looked truly surprised and pleased.
*It’s always interesting to see the array of commentors gathered for these events: CNN has been taken over by the Jesuits! Fr. Fessio and Fr. Jim Martin both did very nice jobs. Fox had Fr. Morris, the LC who is their regular commentater, as well as Fr. Jim Lisante. MSNBC also had two priests – I am not sure what their names were, but I’m sure I will figure it out, plus George Weigel.
Hey, MSM…you know how you’re always griping about the Catholic Church being dominated by clerics and males?
Just thought I’d mention it.
*The Pope was greeted by “Happy Birthday” earlier, too:

Pope Benedict XVI opened the doors of the Vatican Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue this morning to a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung in German and English by 110 elementary students from nearby Annunciation Catholic School.
“Wonderful. In German and in English,” the pontiff said as he prepared for an appearance later in the morning at the White House. He moved to a railing and shook hands with several of the students, including James Henkels, an 11-year-old from Vancouver, Washington. He had traveled here with his father Paul, who said the family regarded is as “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
The students, who arrived at the embassy about 90 minutes before the pope came out, waited eagerly inside the fenced courtyard for their big moment.

*Of course the birthday began with Mass. From CNS:

The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, has a front-page headline today that says, “An unusual birthday party.” The article, by Gianluca Biccini, who is traveling with the papal entourage, explains that Pope Benedict XVI “began the second day of his apostolic visit at an early hour with a Mass celebrated in the small chapel of the apostolic nunciature on the elegant Massachusetts Avenue.”
The paper described the Mass as being a “family” celebration with the pope’s closest aides as well as “about 30 members of the nunciature staff accompanied by their families.”

 
 
*Here’s the text of the Pope’s speech:

---

Mr. President, Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first Diocese – Baltimore – to a metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America’s Catholics have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.

From the dawn of the Republic, America’s quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation’s founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the “self-evident truth” that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature’s God. The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America’s Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.
For well over a century, the United States of America has played an important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world’s peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God’s bounty has set for all his children. America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish – a world where the God-given dignity and rights of every man, woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.
Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!