Pope celebrates 85th birthday with special Mass

Pope Benedict marked his 85th birthday yesterday saying he is now in the “last stretch” of his life but sure that God would help him continue his mission.

Benedict, who has looked tired and drawn recently, is one of history’s oldest reigning pontiffs – and already older than his predecessor John Paul II was when he died in 2005.

The pope said a Mass of thanksgiving with German bishops and close aides. Afterwards, children from his native Bavaria danced under the frescoes of the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.

“I find myself facing the last stretch on the road of my life,” Benedict said during the early morning Mass in the Vatican.

He said he was confident that God’s light would help him “proceed with assurance”.

Benedict is now the oldest pope in office since Leo XIII, who died aged 93 in 1903 after reigning for 25 years.

On Thursday, Benedict will celebrates the seventh anniversary of his election.

The pope has looked tired since his return from a trip to Mexico and Cuba last month, followed by a hectic week of ceremonies leading up to Easter.

Benedict’s older brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, who has often expressed concern for the health of his younger sibling, flew in for the celebrations, which were also attended by some Bavarian politicians.