Pope Turns 81 With a Full Day’s Work
From Times Wire Reports
His body frail but his spirit still strong, Pope John Paul II turned 81 with a full schedule of audiences and addresses.
The Roman Catholic leader had a typical smorgasbord of audiences: with nine new ambassadors, five Pakistani bishops and 120 members of the European Automobile Manufacturers Assn.
His birthday was to be marked by a lunch, including a cake, with aides singing the Polish song “Sto Lat” (May you live 100 years).
“It’s a normal day with a lot of work,” said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
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