Apr 17, 2008 / 12:16 pm
On Wednesday, April 16, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger sent birthday greetings from his hometown to his brother Pope Benedict XVI, who is currently visiting the United States.
The 81 year-old Pontiff’s brother wished him “health and strength” and that he would “continue in your work for many years to come,” according to an interview pubished by the German daily Bild.
Msgr. Ratzinger, who is also a talented musician and directs the orchestra at the Cathedral of Ratisbona, said he hopes to visit his brother in Rome next week. “When he (Benedict XVI) is at the Vatican, we speak often by telephone,” he said.
Msgr. Ratzinger said he no longer enjoys traveling but he does enjoy going to visit his brother. “In Italy they come to pick me up in a car from the Vatican. We follow a police escort with sirens and lights, that way we get their fast despite heavy traffic. Once we made it from the airport to the Vatican in 11 minutes. That was a record!” he laughed.