Washington D.C., Apr 10, 2008 / 09:15 pm (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 81st birthday next Wednesday during his trip to the United States.  That day, a group of children from a Catholic school will sing “Happy Birthday” to him, 630 WMAL reports.

A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, Kathy Dempsey, said that the children from Annunciation Catholic School are enthusiastic about the opportunity to sing for the Holy Father.

"They've been practicing and they're tickled pink," Dempsey said.  She said several schoolchildren were brushing up on their German for the German-born Pontiff.

Dempsey said that the Pope was beyond celebrity status for the children.

“Not to say that celebrities don't have substance, but the pope is all about substance and he represents God's love.”

“And the young people, they get that," she said.

After a brief birthday celebration on Wednesday, the Pope will visit the White House.  The next day, he will celebrate Mass in Nationals Park before a crowd of thousands.

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