Pope Benedict touched down in his home country of Germany on Thursday, on what is expected to be a difficult visit.<br/> The pontiff received a warm welcome from Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Christian Wulff and members of the German cabinet.<br/> The pontiff will visit mostly Protestant and atheist regions in the ex-communist east and is expected to urge followers not to not to leave the Roman Catholic Church following the clerical sex abuse scandal.<br/> Protesters in East Berlin held an anti-pope demonstration as Benedict began his visit.<br/> Those taking part said they wanted to bring the issue of child abuse cases to the forefront of the pontiff's visit.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSE BY PRIESTS (SNAP) BARBARA BLAINE:<br/> "We believe that the Catholic church officials have done a horrific job and that they continue to harbour sexual predators and that they endanger children across the globe."<br/> The first day of the pontiff's high profile visit was mainly taken up with meeting political leaders such as Chancellor Merkel and addressing the lower house of parliament.<br/> On Friday he plans to meet Protestant leaders in Erfurt, and his tour will end in the mostly Catholic south-western city Freiburg.<br/> Simon Hanna, Reuters.
