Wednesday, April 16, 2008, the second day of Pope Benedict XVI's first apostolic visit to the United States, was also his 81st birthday. Now, on April 19, we celebrate the third anniversary of his election as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.

And what a way to celebrate the day! Pope Benedict's schedule includes a morning Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, celebrated for priests and male and female members of religious orders; and a meeting later in the afternoon with youth and seminarians at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. Both events will include rides in the "Popemobile" through the streets of New York, which are expected to be thronged with New Yorkers and visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father. (If you are hoping to see Pope Benedict, or if you want to know which streets to avoid during his visit so that you don't get caught in traffic, check out this comprehensive list of street closings compiled by Pamela Skillings, the About.com Guide to Manhattan.)

Like Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict enjoys spending time with youth, and he has set as one of the goals of his pontificate the renewal of the priesthood and religious life. There seems, then, no more appropriate groups with which to celebrate the third anniversary of his election. May God grant him many years as the Vicar of Christ!

(Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Related Resources:

• Biography of Pope Benedict XVI
• Photo Gallery of Pope Benedict's April 2008 Visit to the United States
• Schedule of Pope Benedict's 2008 Visit to the United States