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Pope wraps up visit to Germany

FREISING, Germany, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Crowds of well-wishers gathered in Bavaria, Germany, to say goodbye to Pope Benedict XVI as he ended his six-day stay in his homeland Thursday.

Large crowds gathered two hours early and banners were hung to celebrate the 79-year-old pontiff's visit as he rode through the city of Freising on his way to address a gathering of priests and deacons at the cathedral where he was ordained a priest in 1951, German radio-television Deutsche Welle reported Thursday.

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During his visit, which the pope said may be his final trip to the region, the Roman Catholic leader called for unity within the church.

"Just as in an organ an expert hand must constantly bring disharmony back to consonance, so we in the church ... always need to find anew, through our communion in faith, harmony in the praise of God and in fraternal love," he said

Benedict spent Wednesday visiting with his elder brother and praying at the graves of his mother, father and sister, Deutsche Welle said. The pontiff held an outdoor mass Tuesday that saw some pilgrims camping out the previous night to attend.

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