NAMES IN THE NEWS : Pope John Paul II Turns 70
Pope John Paul II turned 70 today but the Vatican marked the day with little fanfare and no public birthday party.
The Vatican was “overwhelmed” by messages and telephone calls pouring in from well-wishing world leaders too numerous to identify, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro said.
No public celebration was planned and Navarro said he knew of no private celebration plans.
The Rome newspaper Il Messaggero published a front-page article written by Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity labor movement in the Pope’s native Poland, who praised the Pope for helping to transform Europe.
“Today a Europe of free nations has become a reality and I think that many people in Europe will thank God for giving the world John Paul II,” it said.
John Paul held his usual audiences today and delivered several speeches.
The Vatican daily newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, marked the birthday with the headline “Best Wishes, Holy Father” and articles and photos on his 11 1/2 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
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