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VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict received a customary gift for a Pontiff on his 80th birthday yesterday, a concert of classical music, as well as a more unusual offering - a huge stuffed toy bear.
The Pope's secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, told Vatican Radio that the bear, which he called "a beautiful specimen", was sent by an unidentified Italian.
The Pope sent it on to Rome's Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) children's hospital.
The German Pope was feted with a classical concert by an orchestra from Stuttgart.
In Marktl am Inn, Germany, hundreds of people held prayers at the small Bavarian house where Benedict was born.
Scores of children sent birthday greetings in balloons launched after a special Mass at the village east of Munich.
The house where Benedict was born was turned into a museum to cope with the surge of visitors.
- REUTERS
