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The blessing of Berlin: Pope Benedict holds open-air service at Olympic Stadium in front of a cheering crowd of 70,000

• 70,000 cheer for the pope during his service at Berlin's Olympic Stadium
  
• Head of the Roman Catholic church greeted by large protests in Berlin
• Slogans read: 'against anti-Semitism, sexism and homophobia'
• More demonstrations expected outside German parliament as pope talks
• Politicians have threatened to boycott and 10,000 protesters could rise
• More than 250,000 people are registered to attend his Masses
• Pope Benedict XVI also called for an 'ethical renewal' in Italy

By Oliver Pickup and Jessica Satherley

Last updated at 2:29 AM on 23rd September 2011

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More than 70,000 people enthusiastically cheered for Pope Benedict XVI last night, as he drove through Berlin’s Olympic Stadium in his popemobile, greeting the faithful and kissing several babies.

“Looking into the wide expanse of the Olympic Stadium, which you are crowding in such a great number, fills me with great joy and confidence,” he told the crowd in Germany.

Built by the Nazis for the 1936 games, the pope held an open-air service at the stadium, on his first state visit to his homeland, which saw him being greeted by dozens of Roman Catholics earlier in the day.

Scroll down to see a video of Pope Benedict XVI's arrival in Berlin

Olympic service: Pope Benedict XVI arriving at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, where he gave a mass to 70,000 people on the first day of his first state visit to his native Germany

The Popemobile: Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his white Popemobile at the Olympiastadion stadium while waving to 70,000 people before giving his Catholic mass in Berlin

Benedict urged the crowd not to view the church merely “as one of many organisations within a democratic society,” but as the source of their salvation.

The faithful appeared moved as they left after the service held in German and Latin.

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“It was beautiful. The service surpassed all my expectations,” said Heidi Frank, 49, who had travelled 310 miles from the southern German city of Regensburg to see the pope.

“The atmosphere was impressive - the entire community praying, you don’t get that every day,” said Jaqueline Hoehns, 21, from Berlin.

After the Bavarian-born pontiff, 83, was met at at Berlin’s Tegel airport by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wulff earlier in the day, the pope also addressed Germany’s parliament in the historic Reichstag building.

Pope Benedict XVI issues a blessing at the end of a mass at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on the first day of his state visit to his homeland

Faith: Benedict urged the crowd not to view the church merely 'as one of many organisations within a democratic society,' but as the source of their salvation

Choristers wait for the start of a Holy Eucharist celebration to be held by Pope Benedict XVI at Olympic Stadium... Pope Benedict urged the faithful not to leave the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday as he began a four-day visit to Germany

He warned that politicians must not sacrifice ethics for power and evoking the Nazi excesses of his homeland as a lesson in history.

Amid scattered protests outside and a boycott by some lawmakers, Benedict began his first state visit to Germany on Thursday in a bid to stem the tide of Catholics leaving the church while acknowledging the damage caused by the clerical sex abuse scandal.

The pope spoke for 20 minutes in the Reichstag, which was torched in 1933 in an incident used by Hitler to strengthen his grip on power.

“We Germans know from our own experience” what happens when power is corrupted, Benedict said, describing Nazis as a “highly organised band of robbers, capable of threatening the whole world and driving it to the edge of the abyss.”

But he said even under the Nazi dictatorship resistance movements stuck to their beliefs at a great risk, “thereby doing a great service to justice and to humanity as a whole.”

He also urged all Germans not to ignore religion.

Pope Benedict XVI gives communion during the Eucharist at the Olympic stadium... The pope said the service filled him with great joy and confidence

'It was beautiful. The service surpassed all my expectations' said Heidi Frank, 49, who had traveled 310 miles to attend the open-air service

The 70,000 faithful crowd appeared moved as they left after the service, which was held in both in German and Latin

“Even today, there is ultimately nothing else we could wish for but a listening heart - the capacity to discern between good and evil, and thus to establish true law, to serve justice and peace,” he said.

Benedict also voiced strong support for Germany’s ecological movement, calling it “a cry for fresh air which must not be ignored or pushed aside.”

After the speech, he met with a 15-member Jewish delegation, noting that it was in Berlin that the annihilation of European Jews was organised.

“The supposedly `almighty’ Adolf Hitler was a pagan idol, who wanted to take the place of the biblical God,” Benedict said according to a prepared text.

We weather gear: Members of the Catholic clergy put on rain ponchos as they wait for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI before the Holy Eucharist

Clergy leave the Catholic mass for 70,000 people led by Pope Benedict XVI, after he was greeted by dozens of Roman Catholics earlier in the day

Catholic priests celebrate the Eucharist during the service, which had been described as an 'impressive atmosphere'

In parliament, Speaker Norbert Lammert welcomed the pope, noting that the last time there was a pontiff of German origin Germany didn’t yet even exist as a state.

“Germany is a country that over centuries was strongly marked by religion and religious wars,” Lammert said.

“A country whose Christian traditions of belief also influence the constitution we have today.”

But flagging Christian influence in Europe was one of Benedict’s key themes.

“We are witnessing a growing indifference to religion in society,” he said at a formal welcoming ceremony at the German president’s Bellevue palace.

German-born Pope Benedict XVI is flanked by German President Christian Wulff (right) and his wife Bettina Wulff (left) as he leaves Bellevue Palace in Berlin after a welcoming ceremony earlier in the day

Pope Benedict XVI signs the guestbook while German President Christian Wulff looks on during their meeting at the Bellevue Palace

German policemen block a raft with protesters on Spree river during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Berlin

He called religion a foundation for a successful society and said its values were essential for freedom.

Benedict said the presidential palace, which was destroyed in World War II, was a reminder of German history.

“A clear look at the past, even at its dark pages, enables us to learn from it and to receive an impetus for the present,” the pope said.

When the pope was met on a red carpet at the start of his four-day, Howitzers fired a ceremonial salute as the pope stepped off his plane, and Eurofighter jet escorts flew overhead.

Heaven's Angels: White-clad bikers lead the motorcade for Pope Benedict XVI from Tegel airport to Bellevue Palace in Berlin

Arrival: From centre left, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Christian Wulff and his wife Bettina Wulff, wait to welcome Pope Benedict XVI. Right, he walks on the red carpet upon his arrival at the Tegel airport tarmac

Runway reception: Pope Benedict XVI walks with German President Christian Wulff, right, and Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, on his arrival at Tegel International airport. Right, a large crowd greets the pope at the Berlin airport

Warm welcome: The pope greets children upon his arrival at Tegel airport as German President Christian Wulff and German Chancellor Angela Merkel look on

Merkel introduced the pope to members of her Cabinet. He then greeted members of the German Catholic Church and children who stood waiting for him with small yellow-and-white Vatican flags and presented him with a bouquet of flowers.

Benedict, who was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Marktl and was appointed the head of the Roman Catholic Church in April 2005, blessed the children before moving on, accompanied by Merkel and President Wulff to his car.

A tiny group of about 20 protesters stood outside the airport, holding banners with slogans saying 'against anti-Semitism, sexism and homophobia' and 'my body, my choice'.

The pope is scheduled to speak later today in parliament, which many lawmakers have vowed to boycott in protest over what they consider a violation of Germany's separation of church and state.

Another 10,000 people are expected to demonstrate outside.

Well-wishers: The 84-year-old addressed children at the airport reception in Berlin after he had touched down

Ooops! Pope Benedict XVI catches his headdress which was blown by the wind as he leaves his aircraft

Wind assisted: German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on as Pope Benedict XVI has his robe blown in his face

The Vatican's views on contraception, the role of women, homosexuality and its handling of the sexual abuse scandal that rocked Germany last year are seen by many in Germany as outdated and out-of-touch.

On the plane, the pope told reporters that he found demonstrations were acceptable as long as they remained civil.

'(They are) normal in a free society and in the secularised world,' he said.

Military honours: A view of the formal welcoming ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI at the presidential Bellevue palace in Berlin

Different views: The pope speaks at Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the President of Germany, left, while a protestor, right, makes his point

Formal talks: Pope Benedict XVI speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the house of the German Bishops Conference in Berlin

Meanwhile, in a telegram to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano ahead of a visit to his native Germany he also called for an 'ethical renewal' in Italy, where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is battling a scandal over his notorious Bunga Bunga parties, alleged to be awash with prostitutes and showgirls.   

The pope expressed his 'hope of an ever-more intense ethical renewal for the good of beloved Italy'.

The pontiff made no direct reference to the sex scandal which has engulfed the 74 year-old premier in recent days just as financial troubles have raised fears of a Greek-style debt crisis, but his comments carried a clear resonance amid a barrage of newspaper coverage of the goings-on.    

Friends in high places: German Air Force fighters escort the plane carrying Pope Benedict XVI to Tegel International airport in Berlin

In strict formation: The back of the motorcade carrying the pope is shown as it drives into Berlin, the German capital

In Germany the pope has planned meetings with leaders of Germany's Jewish and Muslim communities, three Masses, an ecumenical service with Lutheran church members and possibly meetings with victims abused by priests.

He told journalists on his journey from Italy that there needs to be an examination of why people have been leaving the church recently, and the part that the abuse scandals played in the phenomenon.

'I can understand that some people have been scandalised by the crimes that have been revealed in recent times,' he said.

More than 250,000 people are registered to attend his Masses during his visit.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040488/Pope-Benedict-XVI-holds-open-air-service-Olympic-Stadium-cheering-crowd-70-000.html#ixzz1Yk6DZUJ6