Any birthday surprises in store?

Pope Benedict received a birthday cake at the White House April 16, 2008, when he turned 81. (CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has yet to reveal what retired Pope Benedict has planned for his 87th birthday today.

It will definitely be low key and most probably include a friendly phone call from Pope Francis, who is always picking up the phone on people’s birthdays.

While Pope Benedict usually liked to keep celebrations simple, the people around him liked to splurge, especially when he visited Washington, D.C., in 2008.

April 16 was his first full day in the United States, and the White House presented him with a gorgeous four-tier lemon cake after opera star Kathleen Battle belted out the “Happy Birthday” song.

Things got really raucous when a group of Bavarians came to the apostolic palace on April 16, 2012. A small band treated the pope to ”oomppah” music and kids did the skirt-swirling, shoe-stomping, thigh-slapping “Schuhplattler” dance.

Children in traditional Bavarian dress danced for Pope Benedict on his 85th birthday in the Clementine Hall in 2012. (CNS photo/Gregorio Borgia, pool via Reuters)

Dressed in traditional costume, the children presented the pope with white flowers and a maypole covered with colorful ribbons and recited a German birthday poem.

Remember, you can send greetings and well-wishes to:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Mater Ecclesiae monastery

00120 Vatican City State