German-born Pope Benedict XVI (R) is welcomed by German President Christian Wulff on September 22, 2011 at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, on the first day of the Pontiff's first state visit to his native Germany. The 84-year old pope, German born Joseph Ratzinger, has a packed program, with 18 sermons and speeches planned for his four-day tri p to Berlin, Erfurt in the ex-German Democratic Republic and Freiburg. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE