Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday, 17 December, surrounded by well-wishers and a joyous gathering of children and families from the Santa Marta Dispensary. Pope, known for his humble demeanor, was presented with a birthday cake and serenaded with ‘Happy Birthday’ by the beneficiaries of the dispensary, an institution that has been providing medical assistance to those in need for over 90 years.

As part of his annual tradition leading up to Christmas, Pope Francis took a moment to reflect on the significance of the upcoming holiday. Emphasizing the importance of preparing hearts for the celebration of Jesus' birth, he remarked, “We need to prepare ourselves for the great feast of Christmas, which will be next week. It is the feast when we think and recall when Jesus came among us. He came to be with us.”

Encouraging a moment of reflection, Pope invited the gathered children and families to close their eyes and contemplate the special grace they would like to ask Jesus for this Christmas. In his brief address, he expressed gratitude for the birthday wishes and extended warm Christmas greetings, saying, “Merry Christmas to you all. Keep those smiles on your faces, and may the Lord grant you everything you desire. Thank you!”

The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, also extended his best wishes to Pope Francis on his birthday, offering sincere and affectionate hopes for the Pope's well-being and the continued success of his influential leadership.

In response to the occasion, the Italian Bishop’s Conference seized the opportunity to advocate for peace in a world marked by conflicts. Expressing solidarity with Pope's vision, they stated, “We, together with you, want to be artisans of peace to overcome a culture of war, hatred, ignorance, and prejudice. Praying for peace in our war-torn world, we believe this would be the best gift for our Churches.”

As Pope Francis embarks on another year of his pontificate, the global community unites in celebrating his birthday and embracing his call for spiritual preparation during the Christmas season.