Pope delivers final mass of German visit

Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered in Germany to celebrate the Pope’s final mass of his four-day visit.

The turn out in Freiburg in the mainly Catholic south of the country, shows the faith is still very strong despite record numbers of Germans worshippers leaving the church in recent years over child abuse scandals.

Although Pope Benedict attracted large crowds throughout his native Germany, his presence also drew scattered protests from abuse victims and groups representing them.

On the second day of his visit he met with five victims of abuse by priests and afterwards spoke of his “compassion and deep regret.”

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