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Pope holds Mass in native Bavaria Pope holds Mass in native Bavaria
(about 3 hours later)
Pope Benedict XVI has been celebrating an outdoor Mass in his southern German homeland of Bavaria. Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated an outdoor Mass attended by hundreds of thousands of followers in his southern German homeland of Bavaria.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were expected at the site near Munich, and many spent the night there. In his homily, the pontiff suggested that the West could learn lessons about faith from people in Asia and Africa.
It is one of three Masses to be celebrated in the open air by the Pope during his six-day visit to Germany. The Mass, at a fairground near Munich, was one the highlights of the Pope's six-day visit to Bavaria, which he described as a joyous personal journey.
On his arrival on Saturday he was greeted by Chancellor Angela Merkel and spoke of his love for his homeland, saying: "My heart beats Bavarian." In the coming days he is due to visit his native village and his brother.
The Mass in the Bavarian capital will be followed by others in the small town of Alltoeting and in the city of Regensburg. About 250,000 people attended Sunday's Mass near Munich.
This is the Pope's second visit to Germany and will be, says the Vatican, more spiritual and personal. He is due to visit Marktl-am-Inn, the village where he was born. The Pope said that in today's world many people were listening to so many frequencies that they "were no longer able to hear God".
Inside of me, so many memories of my years in Munich and Regensburg are coming back Pope Benedict XVI The pontiff will also see his brother, retired priest Georg Ratzinger, and together they will go to the graves of their parents and sister. He praised people in Africa and Asia for rejecting "the cynicism that considers mockery of the sacred to be an exercise of freedom and that holds up utility as the supreme moral criterion".
Family visit
The event in Munich will be followed by other open-air Masses in the small town of Alltoeting and in the city of Regensburg.
People in Africa and Asia admire our scientific and technical progress, but at the same time they are frightened by a form of rationality which totally excludes God Pope Benedict XVI During his trip the pontiff is also due to visit Marktl-am-Inn, the village where he was born.
He will see his brother, retired priest Georg Ratzinger, and together they will go to the graves of their parents and sister.
On his arrival on Saturday Pope Benedict was greeted by Chancellor Angela Merkel and spoke of his love for his homeland, saying: "My heart beats Bavarian."
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.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.
'Deep traces' This is the Pope's second visit to Germany.
He last visited his native country just over a year ago to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne.
Pope Benedict taught theology in Regensburg from 1969 until becoming archbishop of Munich in 1977, where he stayed until 1982 before being called to work at the Vatican.Pope Benedict taught theology in Regensburg from 1969 until becoming archbishop of Munich in 1977, where he stayed until 1982 before being called to work at the Vatican.
In an emotional speech at Munich airport on Saturday, the 79-year-old Pope said: "Inside of me, so many memories of my years in Munich and Regensburg are coming back, memories of people and events that left deep traces in me."
But the trip has more than symbolic value for the Pope.
It is also intended to counter the rapid decline in religious observance in Germany, where more than 100,000 people are said officially to leave the church every year.
Pope Benedict admitted there was "fatigue everywhere", but said he had also seen an "incredible dynamism" in Germany ahead of his visit.
Earlier, he told reporters he would like to visit more of Germany, but: "I am an old man, and I don't know how much time the Lord will give me."
Pope Benedict's predecessor John Paul II was an enthusiastic traveller, but Pope Benedict has made only three trips abroad 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.