Pope Francis 81st Birthday Pizza Party

He had his eyes on the pies

Cake might be the traditional marker of a birthday done right, but some people are firmly in the birthday-pie camp. Others interpret the term pie a bit more liberally—like the Pope, for one.

Earlier this week, Pope Francis turned 81 years old, and to celebrate, he had a 13-foot-long pizza adorned with a single candle. There was cake as well, but not even this impressive number from Rome's Hedera Sweetness & Co. could steal the spotlight from four meters of cheese- and tomato-topped carbs.

He blew out the candle with the help of children from a local health clinic. He also apparently told them eating pizza will make them grow, which is basically what we were taught about eating broccoli, except 10 times more exciting.