Pope Francis celebrates his birthday with extra-long pizza
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pope Francis blows out a candle on pizza to celebrate his 81st birthday during a private audience with children at the Vatican. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis has blown out his birthday candle on an extra-long pizza at the Vatican to the delight of children.
Francis, who turned 81 on Sunday, then told the children, who use a Vatican health service, to "eat all four meters (13 feet)" saying it will make them grow.
Pope Francis blowing out the candle at the Vatican. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
Later, thousands of children in St. Peter's Square shouted birthday wishes to Francis. He replied from his window overlooking the square: "Thanks a lot, thanks a lot." His birthday coincided with his weekly Sunday appearance to faithful.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pizza for parties in Italy is often baked in long form, instead of round pies, which are meant instead for individual portions. At the Vatican, rectangular-shaped pieces of pizza were stretched end-to-end on a table and a tall, white candle stuck in the middle.