HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPE FRANCIS DEC. 17 - AGE 77

TODAY IS POPE FRANCIS BIRTHDAY.  He turns 77 today December 17, 2013. He was born in Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina in South America. Francis was named Jorge Mario Bergoglio by his parents. He was born on December 17, 1936. He became the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13,  2012. He was ordained a priest in 1969. Jorge was the oldest of 5 children to Mario and Regina of Italy. 
PRAYER FOR THE POPE:
 Let us pray for our Pontiff Francis.

May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. 
Let us pray.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church: grant him, we beseech Thee, that, by word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, he may attain everlasting life. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.