The visit will take place in response to Cardinal Friedrich Wetter’s invitation to the German-born Pope, made at the start of his pontificate.
Joseph Ratzinger was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, when Pope John Paul II called him to Rome to be prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Benedict XVI will visit Munich, Regensburg, the shrine of Altoetting, and his native village of Marktl-am-Inn, according to Cardinal Wetter, who announced the visit today.
On Nov. 3, when visiting the Vatican, Edmund Stoiber, head of government of the regional state of Bavaria, invited the Pope to visit Munich in 2006.
