Pope Benedict, on his visit to Poland, has changed his travel plans so he can visit the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

The German Pope, formerly cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is expected to make the pilgrimage to Auschwitz later today. On Saturday he made an emotional visit to Wadowice, the home town of his predecessor John Paul II. The Pope gained the respect of Poles when he appeared on the balcony of the episcopal palace in Krakow, a symbolic spot made famous by his Polish predecessor. During the second world war the man who would later become today’s Pope was briefly enrolled in the German army. The four day visit by the Pontiff to Poland is being widely seen as a step towards reconciliation. Benedict has been to Auschwitz before but this will be his first visit there as Pope.

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