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| Pope makes 'personal' German trip | Pope makes 'personal' German trip |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in southern Germany for a six-day visit to his homeland, Bavaria. | |
| He landed in Munich, where he will hold an open-air mass for an expected 250,000 people on Sunday - one of three planned masses during his tour. | |
| He is also due to visit the village of his birth, Marktl-am-Inn, and meet his brother, Georg, a retired priest. | He is also due to visit the village of his birth, Marktl-am-Inn, and meet his brother, Georg, a retired priest. |
| This is the Pope's second visit to Germany and will be, says the Vatican, more spiritual and personal. | This is the Pope's second visit to Germany and will be, says the Vatican, more spiritual and personal. |
| But while he faces a warm welcome from many thousands of Catholics in Germany, some have been critical of his uncompromising condemnation of gay marriage and abortion, the BBC's David Willey says. | But while he faces a warm welcome from many thousands of Catholics in Germany, some have been critical of his uncompromising condemnation of gay marriage and abortion, the BBC's David Willey says. |
| Such criticism has tempered German pride in last year's election of the first German Pope for centuries, our correspondent adds. | Such criticism has tempered German pride in last year's election of the first German Pope for centuries, our correspondent adds. |
| 'Private day' | 'Private day' |
| Before his visit, Pope Benedict told German TV: "I want to see again the places and the people I grew up with and which shaped me and formed my life, and to thank those people." | Before his visit, Pope Benedict told German TV: "I want to see again the places and the people I grew up with and which shaped me and formed my life, and to thank those people." |
| Police are preparing for as many as 500,000 visitors this weekend in Munich, where the Pope once served both as priest and bishop. | Police are preparing for as many as 500,000 visitors this weekend in Munich, where the Pope once served both as priest and bishop. |
| Pope Benedict's visit to Bavaria will be his fourth trip abroad | Pope Benedict's visit to Bavaria will be his fourth trip abroad |
| His mass in the Bavarian capital will be followed by others in the small town of Alltoeting and in Regensburg city. | His mass in the Bavarian capital will be followed by others in the small town of Alltoeting and in Regensburg city. |
| Wednesday will be a "private day", says the Vatican. | Wednesday will be a "private day", says the Vatican. |
| The Pope will visit his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, in Regensburg and together they will go to the graves of their parents and sister. | The Pope will visit his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, in Regensburg and together they will go to the graves of their parents and sister. |
| Pope Benedict, 79, has travelled abroad three times since becoming pontiff in April 2005 - all within Europe. He last visited Germany just over a year ago to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne. | Pope Benedict, 79, has travelled abroad three times since becoming pontiff in April 2005 - all within Europe. He last visited Germany just over a year ago to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne. |
| His predecessor John Paul II made numerous trips spanning the globe to meet Catholics and reach out to other faiths. | His predecessor John Paul II made numerous trips spanning the globe to meet Catholics and reach out to other faiths. |
| Last month, Pope Benedict said he "never felt strong enough to plan many long trips" but added, "where such a trip allows me to communicate a message or where... it's in response to a sincere request, I'd like to go." | Last month, Pope Benedict said he "never felt strong enough to plan many long trips" but added, "where such a trip allows me to communicate a message or where... it's in response to a sincere request, I'd like to go." |