Photo Gallery Bye-bye, Benedict
After four days in his homeland, Pope Benedict XVI headed back to Rome onboard the Airbus "Regensburg," seen here taking off from Black Forest Airport in Lahr, Germany.
Before boarding the Lufthansa plane, Pope Benedict XVI thanked his home country for the "exciting and moving" experience. "With the assurance of my prayers for you all, and for our country a future of peace and freedom, I leave you with a hearty 'God bless!' May the Lord bless you all!" the 84-year-old said.
In keeping with many of his appearances around the country on his four-day visit, Benedict made a point of greeting those who came out to see him off from the airport in Lahr on Sept. 25.
The pope shakes hands with German President Christian Wulff before departing for Rome around sunset. Wulff thanked the leader of the Catholic Church for coming to Germany, saying that his visit touched the hearts of countless people. "They put a lot of value in your journey," Wulff added.
Safe in his popemobile, Benedict XVI maneuvered his way through thousands of curious fans before a celebration of the Eucharist in Freiburg, Germany, on Sept. 25.
The Pope's first state visit to Germany lasted four days and saw the pontiff travel to Berlin, Erfurt and Freiburg. Here he is seen waving to onlookers in the Freiburg concert hall on Sunday.
In his final address, Benedict told an audience of 1,500 in Freiburg that in order to fulfill its true mission, the church must always strive to combat secularization. A church free from material and political burden can also better focus on the true Christian path, he said.
The 84-year-old pontiff also met with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and his wife, Maike Richter-Kohl, at a seminary in Freiburg, Germany on Sept. 24.
Kohl's car was towed during the meeting on Saturday after his wife reportedly parked too close to one of the city center's famous water-filled Bächle, or gunnels.
Flanked by Bishop Joachim Wanke, Benedict had greeted religious pilgrims outside the Erfurt cathedral the day before. There he met with Protestant leaders, who were disappointed by his unwillingness to forge closer ties between the two churches.
Over the course of his trip, the pontiff celebrated five masses, including this one in Erfurt.
People wait in line to meet Pope Benedict XVI at a former airfield in Freiburg, Germany on Sept. 25. The mass in the southern German city took place on the last day of the pontiff's visit.
Hundreds of thousands of worshippers showed up at the Freiburg event to attend the mass.
Young believers staged a candlelight vigil overnight ahead of the mass.
A papal aide carries a sign presented to the pope as he and his entourage prepare to leave Germany for Rome on Sunday.
Protests also marked the Pope's visit to Germany. Even his well-received speech in the Bundestag was not without controversy -- dozens of parliamentarians stayed away in protest at the appearance, which they said violated the separation of church and state. This demonstrator in Berlin was protesting the Church's handling of the sexual abuse scandal.
