Pope Celebrates 50 Years of Priesthood
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VATICAN CITY — Visibly emotional, Pope John Paul II marked 50 years as a priest Friday by thanking God for letting him serve the Roman Catholic Church for half a century and announcing that he had written memoirs.
The 76-year-old pope, who is still recovering from an operation to remove his appendix in October, appeared to be in good health during the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“It is to [God] that today we render homage and thanks. I want to do it together with the entire Christian community of Rome as I recall my priestly jubilee,” he said.
John Paul said his book, “Gift and Mystery,” is a collection of “memories and reflections” on his religious vocation. The Vatican said it contains an autobiographical section and is due to be released this month.
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