MPs table motion to congratulate Pope Francis on his 80th birthday
A cross-party group of MPs have called on the House of Commons to congratulate the Pope Francis on turning 80 later this month.
A group of 13 Conservative, Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Social Democratic and Labour Party members have signed the motion which was put forward by Labour MP and Christian Robert Flello.
The motion states: "That this House congratulates His Holiness Pope Francis on his 80th birthday; recognises his spiritual leadership of over 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide; commends his leading contribution to tackling climate change, promoting sustainable development, welcoming refugees, building peace, encouraging prison reform, protecting religious freedom, and advancing global abolition of the death penalty; and wishes him well for his continued Pontificate."
Pope Francis was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Details of how he plans to celebrate turning 80 have not yet been revealed, but two years ago thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican to dance a mass tango in celebration of his birthday.
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