Quebec's 400th birthday turning into disappointment

The Queen wasn't invited, the Pope's not coming, and as Quebec City begins its 400th birthday celebrations, it's even facing a challenge to its claim to being Canada's oldest city. Only three weeks into the festivities, the city's big 400 has hit a bumpy road that threatens to turn the planned 10-month celebrations into a major bust.

Despite high hopes and heavy lobbying, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday declined an invitation to celebrate mass at a major religious gathering in Quebec City in June. Organizers were counting on the pontiff's presence to boost attendance at the International Eucharistic Congress and to draw world attention to Quebec City's anniversary party.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Quebec, said the Vatican cited a busy schedule and health concerns for backing down.

The international visibility was already hampered by the fact the federal government did not invite Queen Elizabeth II to attend. A similar 400th-anniversary celebration last summer in Jamestown, Va., made global headlines once the Queen arrived.