Pope Francis is 79-years-old

olamide oni

December 17, 2015 11:29 AM

For his 79th birthday, the pontiff received a birthday cake from Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki during his weekly general audience on Wednesday.

The Pope in Africa

Pope Francis celebrates his 79th birthday on Thursday, 17 December, 2015.

Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, His Holiness is the 266th and current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. He became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013.

Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas, took his papal title after St. Francis of Assisi of Italy.

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Prior to his election as pope, Bergoglio served as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 (succeeding Antonio Quarracino), as cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church of Argentina from 2001 to 2013, and as president of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 2005 to 2011.

For his 79th birthday, the pontiff received a birthday cake from Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki during his weekly general audience on Wednesday. The cake was shaped like a Mexican sombrero, and was presented to the Holy Father a day before he turns 79-years-old.

To date, his tenure has been characterized by humility and outspoken support of the world's poor and marginalized people, and he has been involved actively in areas of political diplomacy and environmental advocacy.

Happy Birthday, Pope Francis.

olamide oni