” “The invitation to the faithful to pray for his first visit to his native country since he has been elected Pope (after that for the WYD of Cologne in 2005) and the wish that the "German people" may obtain "a new spring of faith and civil progress". These were expressed today by the Pope, who, at the end of the general audience in Saint Peter’s Square, as he greeted the faithful in Italian, mentioned his fourth apostolic journey outside Italy, when he will visit Germany, from next Saturday (until September 14th). "To the prayer of you all said Benedict XVI I entrust the apostolic journey I will make in Germany from next Saturday. I thank the Lord for the opportunity He offers me to go for the first time since I have been elected Bishop of Rome to Bavaria, my birthplace". "My dear friends, be with me in this visit of mine that I entrust to the Holy Virgin", was the invitation of the Holy Father, who added: "May She guide my steps; may She secure to the German people a new spring of faith and civil progress". ” “
