Thousands of tango dancers to hold flash mob on Pope Francis’ 78th birthday 

Around 7,000 tango dancers are set to celebrate Pope Francis' 78th birthday with a flash mob. 

 

According to the Catholic News Agency, thousands of dancers were invited to make Risorgimento Square in Rome the largest milonga in the world on December 17 at 4 p.m. in Italy and expected to last for two hours. 

 

About 3,000 of the dancers are also expected to take part in the Pope's Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square, a few steps away from Risorgimento Square. They will be wearing white handkerchiefs around their necks.

 

"We have gotten all of the permits and we will dance a milonga with the official permission of the city of Rome and the Vatican gendarmerie," event organizer Cristina Camaroni shared. 

 

Pope Francis, who was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Flores in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. 

 

In the 2010 book interview, then-Cardinal Bergoglio said, "I like Tango very much. It's something that comes from inside of me. My favorite singers are Carlos Gardel, Julio Sosa, and Ada Falcon, who later became a nun." 

 

Meanwhile, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization approved a joint proposal by Argentina and Uruguay to include the tango in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2009. — Trisha Macas/VC, GMA News