VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his 80th birthday a day early with a Mass in his honour Sunday on the flower-bedecked steps of St. Peter's Square.
Cardinals, priests and tens of thousands of faithful joined the pope in prayers of thanks to God for his long life.
Benedict was born in Marktl Am Inn, a riverside town in the Bavaria region of Germany, and sprinkled among the crowd in the square were fellow countrymen and women in traditional dress, including feather-trimmed hats.
Benedict said the faithful had gathered to reflect on what he called his "not brief" life.
Since becoming pope two years ago, Benedict has devoted much of his energy to improving relations with other religions as well as among Christians, and in tribute to his efforts, Ecumenical Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians - sent a personal representative to the Mass, the Metropolitan of Pergamo, Ioannis. The pontiff said he hoped that theological dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics would continue "with renewed vigour. "
Benedict and a long line of red-hatted cardinals wore gold -coloured vestments over white robes.
Yellow and white are the official Vatican colours, and the rows of flowers lined up in perfect order across the steps were all yellow.
The pope smiled as he gazed across the sea of faithful gathered under brilliant sunshine in the square.
As Joseph Ratzinger, the future pope spent most of his earlier years studying and teaching theology in Germany and later trying to ensure that Catholics kept to doctrinal correctness in two decades as a top aide to Pope John Paul II.
Referring to his 2005 election as John Paul's successor, Benedict said in his homily: "With the growing weight of responsibility, the Lord brought me new help in my life."
He said that knowing that many pray for him gives him joy, and he expressed gratitude to those who put up with his shortcomings.
"For this, I would now like to thank the Lord and all of you with all my heart," Benedict said, pledging to carry out his mission with increasing dedication.
