Pope Francis turns 87 years old on Sunday (December 17), making him one of the oldest pontiffs in the history of the Catholic Church.
As per his usual personal birthday tradition, he spent some time with children and their families at the Santa Marta Dispensary, a facility providing medical assistance to children and families in need for over 90 years.
In his short message, the pope urged those present in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall to continue to pray for him, as well as to prepare for Christmas, Vatican News reported.
Aside from Catholics in Rome and around the world, Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent his "most sincere and affectionate wishes" to the pontiff.
Pope Francis Reveals Thoughts on Old Age, Funeral Plans
Last week, in an exclusive Spanish-language interview with Mexican broadcaster N+, Francis revealed that he was feeling better after a respiratory sickness, forcing him to let a Vatican cleric read his messages on his behalf.
The pope said that, despite having contingency plans that would allow him to abdicate similarly to that of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, he still would like to travel the world to spread the Christian gospel message, particularly to Polynesia and his native Argentina. He also stressed that he dislikes making papal abdications the norm.
In addition, Francis revealed that - unlike his immediate predecessors who were interred near the tomb of the apostle Peter in St. Peter's Basilica - he wished to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the principal shrine in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary, specifically the icon "Salus Populi Romani" ("Health/Salvation of the Roman People" in Latin).
St. Mary Major is the pontiff's frequent stop whenever he travels for apostolic trips abroad and upon his return to Rome ever since his election in 2013.
