Ex-Pope, Benedict XVI, celebrates 90th birthday with a mug of beer

Former pope, Benedict XVI, who resigned as pontiff in 2013, recently celebrated his 90th birthday but with a mug of beer as he was flanked by visitors from his native Bavaria in Germany.

The photos of the celebration released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano showed Benedict sipping a beer. His brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, also joined the party and enjoyed a pint of beer. 

Looking happy, Benedict also admired a gift basket whose goodies included pretzel. 

The former pontiff was born on April 16, 1927, in southern Germany. But since the birthday coincided with this year's Easter Sunday, Benedict was feted on Monday.

 

On a sunny, mild day, guests sat outside the monastery on Vatican City grounds where Benedict has lived since he became the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, stunning the Catholic Church.
The last Pope to resign willingly as pontiff was Celestine V in 1294 after reigning for only five months, his resignation was known as "the great refusal" and was condemned by the poet Dante in the "Divine Comedy."