List of journeys of Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI has not been as active in visiting other countries as his predecessor, John Paul II, but has made several trips to foreign countries.

Most of these trips involve the Pope giving speeches on issues that play an important role in the region that he visits, especially those on education, contraceptives, abortion, and what it means to be Catholic.

Italy (May 29, 2005)

Pope Benedict visited the Italian port of Bari and pledged to make the reconciliation with the Eastern Orthodox Church a "fundamental" commitment of his papacy. Benedict made the pledge in a city closely tied to the Orthodox Church. Bari, on Italy’s Adriatic coast, is considered a "bridge" between East and West and is home to the relics of St. Nicholas of Myra, a fourth century saint and the prototype of "Santa Claus," who is one of the most popular saints in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The Pope referred to Bari as a "land of meeting and dialog" with the Orthodox Church in his homily at a Mass that closed a national religious conference. It was his first pilgrimage outside Rome since being elected Pope on April 19 in France. He visited Verona in October of 2006 for a meeting of the Italian Church.

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (August 18 to August 21, 2005)

The Pope arrived in Germany on August 18 in order to participate in the 20th World Youth Day in Cologne. There he met with President Horst Köhler, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Leader of the Opposition Angela Merkel and others, and visited the famous Cologne Cathedral. The Pope visited the synagogue of the Jewish community in Cologne, which is the oldest Jewish community in the world north of the Alps. Benedict and his immediate predecessor John Paul II are the only two popes since St. Peter known to have visited a synagogue. He also spoke with representatives of the Muslim and Protestant communities of Cologne. On August 21, he led a Mass at Marienfeld.

Poland (May 25 to May 28, 2006)

The Pope began his visit just after 11 a.m. on May 25, landing at the Okęcie Military Airport in Warsaw. Throughout his visit, he often spoke a few sentences of Polish, which he had learned phonetically. After a welcoming ceremony, Benedict drove in his popemobile to Warsaw cathedral, where he met and addressed a thousand clergymen. He also paid an official visit to the Presidential Palace and later that day attended a meeting of leaders of various religions. The Pope celebrated an open-air Mass on Piłsudski Square in Warsaw on May 26, visited the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa and arrived in Kraków. On May 27 the pontiff went to Wadowice, the birthplace of his predecessor, the sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki and the Wawel Cathedral and addressed young people gathered at Błonia park in Kraków. On the last day of his visit on Sunday May 27, Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at Błonia for about 900,000 pilgrims, and later that day briefly prayed at the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

pain (July 8 to July 9, 2006)

Pope Benedict visited Spain at the request of King Juan Carlos and the country's Catholic bishops, in particular Valencia, for the Fifth World Meeting of Families. The closing mass was held at the City of Arts and Sciences in the city. The Archbishop of Valencia, Agustin Garcia-Gasco also presided in the service and made a major address to the Pope and the gathering crowds. [ [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2006/index_valencia_en.htm Apostolic Journey to Valencia (8-9 July 2006) ] ]

Bavaria, Germany (September 9 to September 14, 2006)

The Pope visited Munich, Altötting, Marktl am Inn, and Regensburg, all in his home state Bavaria. After his arrival Benedict XVI was welcomed at Munich Airport by Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Horst Köhler. In the Popemobile he was driven through the city of Munich where he was the Archbishop from 1977 to 1982. He said a prayer on Marienplatz, the same ritual which he did before he was called to Rome by Pope John Paul II. More than half a million people joined the outdoor masses which were held in Munich and Regensburg. The Pope visited Marktl am Inn were he was born and baptized. He also spent one day with his elder brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger. They visited their parents' grave and spent the rest of the day at Benedict's former residence, a house still owned by the pope, in a suburb of Regensburg.

Turkey (November 28 to December 1, 2006)

Invited by Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to Istanbul, the Pope visited Turkey. His visit to an overwhelmingly Muslim nation two months after his visit to Bavaria, Germany was initially overshadowed by the controversy about a lecture he had given at Regensburg. His visit was met by nationalist and Islamic protesters [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/26/AR2006112600191.html Turks Protest Pope's Coming Visit - washingtonpost.com ] ] and was placed under unprecedented security measures. [ [http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=202552106&p=zxz55z8yz IOL | Massive security for Pope's Turkey visit ] ]

Arriving on November 28 at Ankara's Esenboğa International Airport, the Pope was welcomed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was leaving for a NATO summit meeting. Later, Benedict visited the Atatürk mausoleum, met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, held talks with Ali Bardakoğlu, President of the Religious Affairs, and received ambassadors at the Vatican Embassy in Ankara.

On November 29 2006, the Pope visited the House of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus, where he conducted an open-air Mass. [ [http://haber.tnn.net/haber_detay.asp?ID=1604322&Cat=ENG Pope Benedict XVI due in Turkey] TNN News] At Istanbul, he prayed with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, before holding private talks. Benedict has stated that a key goal of his papacy will be healing the long-lasting schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. [cite news | url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=153509 | title=Pope meets Orthodox leader in Istanbul seeking rapprochement | publisher=AFP | date=2006-11-29]

On November 30 2006, Benedict's attendance at the Saint Andrew's Day's Divine Liturgy, the primary purpose of his long-planned journey, symbolized his seeking of reconciliation between the Western and Eastern rites of Christianity. [cite news | url=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/01122006/323/pope-ends-turkey-visit-reaching-muslims-orthodox-christians.html | title=Pope ends Turkey visit after reaching out to Muslims, Orthodox Christians | publisher=Yahoo News | date=2006-12-01] Giving a message for the unity of the two Churches, both leaders signed a joint declaration.

Next, the Pope visited Hagia Sophia, originally the greatest church of Orthodox Christianity subsequently converted into a mosque and a museum. He then visited the Blue Mosque [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6158811.stm Pope Benedict XVI due in Turkey] ] [ [http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=73899 POPE VISITS, PRAYS AT ISTANBUL MOSQUE ] EWTN news November 30 2006] .

The Pope then held talks with Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan of Constantinople and Patriarchal Vicar Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Çetin, heads of Turkey's Armenian and the Assyrian communities respectively, conducting religious ceremoniesFact|date=February 2007 in their respective churches. Benedict also met with Ishak Haleva, Hakham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) of Turkey's Sephardic Jews.

On December 1, the Pontiff wrapped up his trip by visiting the Roman Catholic Holy Spirit Cathedral. After releasing white doves symbolizing peace and revealing a statue of Pope Benedict XV, he celebrated Mass in the cathedral. [cite news | url=http://www.internethaber.com/news_detail.php?id=55261 | title=Papa Saint Esprit Katedrali'nde | publisher=Internet Haber | date=12-02-2006 tr icon] In his farewell speech at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, the Pope said "a part of my heart remains in Istanbul". [cite news | url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/5537735.asp | title=Papa: Kalbimin yarısı İstanbul'da kaldı | publisher=Hürriyet | date=12-03-2006 tr icon]

Brazil (May 9 to May 13, 2007)

In Brazil, the Pope visited the sanctuary of Aparecida and the city of São Paulo. He used his travel to Brazil in order to criticize Mexican lawmakers who legalized abortion. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18569939/ Pope condemns abortion on Latin America trip] ] However, the Pope made sure that, although he agreed with Bishops who claimed that politicians in Mexico "excommunicated themselves", there would be no formal excommunication of those individuals.

In Aparecida he addressed the Latin American Bishops' Conference. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271894,00.html Pope Benedict XVI Addresses Latin American Bishops in Brazil] ] During his speech, the Pope condemned abortion and the use of contraceptives. He also condemned the negatives of capitalism and also Marxism for its destructive effects on economies, government, and religion. He also said that it is important to prevent Catholics from turning to Protestant religions, and to instead reinvigorate their connection to the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI canonised Friar Antônio Galvão, a Franciscan who lived in the 18th century, at a festive mass before hundreds of thousands of people in São Paulo.

Austria (September 7 to September 9, 2007)

On September 7, 2007, Pope Benedict arrived at Vienna International Airport at 11:15 a.m., where he was greeted by Austria's President Heinz Fischer and Cardinal Archbishop Christoph Schönborn. [ [http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=153562 Vatican radio, Pope Benedict XVI Arrives in Vienna] ] The visit was labelled as a pilgrimage to Austria's national shrine at Mariazell Basilica. During his three-day visit, he also joined Jewish leaders to pay a silent tribute to victims of the Nazi Holocaust. As a pilgrim, it is his seventh foreign trip in two years, and he joined Vienna's chief rabbi in a memorial to the 65,000 Viennese Jews who perished in Nazi death camps. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6982878.stm BBC NEWS, Austria prepares to welcome Pope] ]

United States (April 15 to April 20, 2008)

The Pope began a visit to the United States on April 15, 2008. [ [http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=6312 Archdiocese of New York, Pope Benedict XVI to visit in April] ] He was greeted by President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna on his arrival to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999.

During his time in the United States, he first traveled to Washington, DC where he was formally received at the White House on April 16, which was also the Pope's 81st birthday. Pope Benedict XVI visited the White House and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it "one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people without tickets lined the streets. [ cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/16/catholicism.usa
title=Thousands gather to greet Pope at White House
author=Ewen MacAskill
pub=The Guardian
date=April 16, 2008]

Afterwards, he traveled to the basilica on The Catholic University of America campus and spoke to the Cardinals and Archbishops of the US Catholic Church on. The university was established by the Papacy and is run by the US Catholic Church, and represents the Vatican's presence in the United States and in the District of Columbia. This was the first time a Pope has come to the university since John Paul II's visit in 1979.

The next morning, he celebrated Mass at Nationals Park for 47,000 people on April 17. [cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a4XCdKnx9gfw
title=Pope Benedict Says Mass Before 47,000 in New Washington Stadium |author=Nadine Elsibai |pub=Bloomberg L.P.
date=April 17, 2008 ] After the mass and before he traveled to give a speech on education, Pope Benedict met privately with some of the childhood sexual abuse victims who were abused by priests from the Boston diocese. [cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3OuOQHnwKDTZMaCuEy-jYhTOkfgD9049JHG0 |title=After intimate meeting, pope turns to global audience |author=Eric Gorski, Associated Press |pub=Google News |date=April 18, 2008 ]

Later that day, he addressed representitives of US Catholic Universities along with US Cardinals, Archbishops, leaders of diocese's schools, and selected guests from the Catholic University community, in a speech at the Catholic University of America, which discussed the role of the Catholic Church in education. [ [http://papalvisit.cua.edu/ Catholic University of America's Papal visit information] ] Afterwords, he went around the university campus went to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in which he spoke various guests of other religions on matters of interfaith unity in order to promote peach and harmony across the world.

Following this, the Pope traveled to New York City, where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly. [ cite news|url=http://voanews.com/english/2008-04-18-voa31.cfm |title=Pope Benedict Addresses UN General Assembly
author=|pub=VOA News |date=April 18, 2008] [ UN document |docid=A-62-PV.95 |body=General Assembly |type=Verbotim Report |session=62 |meeting=95 |page=3 |anchor=pg003-bk01 |date=18 April 2008 |speakername=Pope Benedict XVI | speakernation=Holy See |accessdate=2008-07-01 ] He visited a synagogue in New York, the first visit to a Jewish place of worship in the US by a Pope. [ cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7354023.stm
title=Pope's US tour moves to New York |author=|pub=BBC News Online |date=April 18, 2008] While in New York, the Pope visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he celebrated Mass. In his homily, he spoke of the child sex scandal and called for healing. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080419/ap_on_re_us/pope_us At St. Pat's, Pope prays for healing from sex abuse scandal] ] He also met with disabled children and their families at St. Joseph's Seminary where he later addressed a gathering of some 25,000 young people, after which he was sung to by American Idol star Kelly Clarkson, who performed Schubert's "Ave Maria". [cite web |url = http://video1.washingtontimes.com/papalvisit/2008/04/kelly_clarkson_sings_ave_maria_1.html |title = Kelly Clarkson sings Ave Maria |accessdate = 2008-04-20 |date = 2008-04-19 |publisher = The Washington Times| ]

Afterwards, Pope Benedict visited the World Trade Center site in order to visit and pray at Ground Zero. Also, he celebrated his second Mass at Yankee Stadium, [cite web |url = http://www.arch-no.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=939 |title = Pope Benedict XVI to visit United States |accessdate = 2007-11-24 |date = 2007-11-12 |publisher = Archdiocese of New Orleans| ] after being performed to by Harry Connick, Jr. and his Orchestra, Kim Burrell and others. [ [http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6351675&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1 Harry Connick Jr. Performs at Yankee Stadium] , Fox 5, April 20, 2008]

He then gave a final speech at Kennedy Airport in "Hanger 9" before bidding farewell and boarding Shepherd One. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/20/pope.visit/index.html?eref=rss_latest Pope Celebrates Mass in New York, Set to Depart U.S.] ] The papal airplane "Shepherd One" touched down at Rome Ciampino Airport, Italy, at 10:40 a.m. CEST on Monday April 21, 2008. [ Cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQVATWIhqE4ueFmXGRYWjbB6G5UA
title=Pope arrives home from US trip
author=Agence France-Presse
pub=Google News
date=April 21, 2008 ]

Australia (July 13 to July 21, 2008)

The Pope will meet with the young people of the world at World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. He will celebrate an open-air Closing Mass with the participants at Randwick Racecourse on July 20. [cite web |url = http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en |title = World Youth Day website |accessdate = 2008-03-08 |date = 2008-03-08 |publisher = World Youth Day 2008| ] In order to adjust for the time difference, Benedict XVI will rest for three days in an undisclosed location within Australia before starting his official engagements.Cite web|url=http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-22493|title=Pope to Rest for a Few Days Down Under|accessdate=2008-05-05|publisher=Zenit]

Historic apology

In Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral, Pope Benedict XVI made a historic full apology for child sex abuse by court sentenced 107 predatory Catholic priests, inter alia, and clergymen in Australia, on July 19, 2008. Before a 3,400 audience, he called for compensation and demanded punishment for those guilty of the "evil": "Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering." The Pope added: "Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. I ask all of you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people." [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtGYmNq72j_-TNnXfLbSdMgiTPMQ afp.google.com, Pope apologises for 'evil' of child sex abuse] ] [ [http://uk.reuters.com/article/burningIssues/idUKSYD1805020080719 uk.reuters.com, Pope sorry for Church sexual abuse] ]

France (September 12 to September 15, 2008)

Pope Benedict visits Paris, meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, before travelling to Lourdes in Southwest France to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary there. [cite web |url = http://www.adetocqueville.com/200803071651.m27gpnh09970.htm |title = Pope Benedict XVI will visit France in September |accessdate = 2008-03-08 |date = 2008-03-07 ] At an outdoor Paris Mass attended by 250,000 people, he condemned modern materialism - the world's love of power, possessions and money as a modern-day plague, comparing it to "paganism": "Has not our modern world created its own idols? Has it not imitated, perhaps inadvertently, the pagans of antiquity, by diverting man from his true end, from the joy of living eternally with God? This is a question that all people, if they are honest with themselves, cannot help but ask." [ [http://www.huliq.com/3257/68370/pope-condemns-materialism-pagan huliq.com, Pope Condemns Materialism as "Pagan"] ] [ [http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfnewZ8yLzdFNBZsCFYff3-rzNzA ukpress.google.com, Pope drinks spring water at shrine] ]

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