Moving images of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returning to his homeland to visit his ailing 96-year-old brother highlight a tension in the life of many Christians. On the one hand, there are the bonds to one’s natural family; on the other, the promise of Jesus that “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children for my name’s sake” will “inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

Benedict’s four-day visit to Regensburg was, it seems, a chance to say goodbye to his older brother, Fr Georg Ratzinger, who is seriously ill. It’s the first time the 93-year-old had travelled abroad since he resigned in 2013. He met some of his old neighbours and visited the grave of his parents before returning to Rome on Monday.

When it was announced Benedict would be going to Bavaria no date was specified for his return, leading to speculation that he might stay there for a prolonged period. In the end, that didn’t happen. Despite the pull of his homeland, the Pope Emeritus has always put the obligations of his vocation first – and so he felt he had to return promptly.