ID :
12410
Sun, 07/13/2008 - 22:29
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/12410
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Pope reaches Sydney, will offer apology
(AAP) With one brief wave and a smile, Pope Benedict XVI stepped onto Australian soil on an historic visit he hopes will help resolve the Catholic church's sexual abuse crisis.
The 81-year-old Pontiff, wearing white papal vestments and red shoes, looked sprightly after a 20-hour journey from Rome via Darwin to Sydney, where he will be the figurehead of Catholicism's week-long World Youth Day (WYD) event.
The white-haired Pope was greeted on the tarmac at Richmond RAAF base outside Sydney by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, heading an official party which included NSW's Catholic Premier Morris Iemma and Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell.
Scores of onlookers lined the road outside the air base perimeter for a glimpse of the Pope's chartered Alitalia jet, which sported the Australian flag alongside the Pope's own yellow and white flag as it taxied to the terminal.
But the public was kept well away from the RAAF base, which was ringed by scores of military personnel in an overt display of high security.
There was no opportunity for protesters who plan to use WYD week to demonstrate against the church's stance on abortion and contraception as well as the NSW government's special powers outlawing those who cause "inconvenience or annoyance" to the expected half a million pilgrims.
During his flight, the Pontiff indicated he would use this visit to apologise for sexual abuse by priests.
He told reporters aboard his plane: "We have to consider what was insufficient in our behaviour and how we can prevent, heal, reconcile.
"This is the essential content of what we will say as we apologise."The Catholic Church in Australia said it would welcome such an apology, but did not commit to one of its own.
"We continue, the Church here in Australia, to be committed to doing all we can to bring healing to the victims of sexual abuse," WYD coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said.
"And given our efforts to do the right thing in this very difficult area, we're heartened by the Holy Father's words and we look forward to hearing what he has to say."After a brief reception at the Richmond RAAF base, the Pope's entourage of 27 headed under heavy police motorcycle escort to the Opus Dei retreat on Sydney's north-western outskirts, where the piano-playing, Fanta-sipping Pope will enjoy three days of rest and prayer before joining WYD events.
The Pope is an accomplished pianist who enjoys playing Mozart, and WYD sources said a piano had been delivered to the retreat especially for him.
They also revealed the Pope's predilection for the fizzy orange soft drink.
The Pope, who enjoys a daily afternoon walk at the Vatican, is expected to keep up the routine in the bushland surrounding his Kenthurst retreat, where sources said he also hoped to see native Australian animals.
The Pope will also take the opportunity for rest and prayer at a shrine at the retreat before his first official engagements on Thursday.
That's when he will receive an official welcome at NSW Government House and pray at Mary MacKillop's tomb, before appearing in public for the first time in a "boat-a-cade" on Sydney Harbour.
The pontiff's crowning moment is expected to take place at Randwick racecourse next Sunday, when he conducts mass for up to 500,000 people, bringing WYD to a close.
The Pope is travelling with his own security agent, and will appear in public in his heavily fortified Popemobile.
His entourage includes Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is in effect the Holy See's prime minister.
The 81-year-old Pontiff, wearing white papal vestments and red shoes, looked sprightly after a 20-hour journey from Rome via Darwin to Sydney, where he will be the figurehead of Catholicism's week-long World Youth Day (WYD) event.
The white-haired Pope was greeted on the tarmac at Richmond RAAF base outside Sydney by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, heading an official party which included NSW's Catholic Premier Morris Iemma and Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell.
Scores of onlookers lined the road outside the air base perimeter for a glimpse of the Pope's chartered Alitalia jet, which sported the Australian flag alongside the Pope's own yellow and white flag as it taxied to the terminal.
But the public was kept well away from the RAAF base, which was ringed by scores of military personnel in an overt display of high security.
There was no opportunity for protesters who plan to use WYD week to demonstrate against the church's stance on abortion and contraception as well as the NSW government's special powers outlawing those who cause "inconvenience or annoyance" to the expected half a million pilgrims.
During his flight, the Pontiff indicated he would use this visit to apologise for sexual abuse by priests.
He told reporters aboard his plane: "We have to consider what was insufficient in our behaviour and how we can prevent, heal, reconcile.
"This is the essential content of what we will say as we apologise."The Catholic Church in Australia said it would welcome such an apology, but did not commit to one of its own.
"We continue, the Church here in Australia, to be committed to doing all we can to bring healing to the victims of sexual abuse," WYD coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said.
"And given our efforts to do the right thing in this very difficult area, we're heartened by the Holy Father's words and we look forward to hearing what he has to say."After a brief reception at the Richmond RAAF base, the Pope's entourage of 27 headed under heavy police motorcycle escort to the Opus Dei retreat on Sydney's north-western outskirts, where the piano-playing, Fanta-sipping Pope will enjoy three days of rest and prayer before joining WYD events.
The Pope is an accomplished pianist who enjoys playing Mozart, and WYD sources said a piano had been delivered to the retreat especially for him.
They also revealed the Pope's predilection for the fizzy orange soft drink.
The Pope, who enjoys a daily afternoon walk at the Vatican, is expected to keep up the routine in the bushland surrounding his Kenthurst retreat, where sources said he also hoped to see native Australian animals.
The Pope will also take the opportunity for rest and prayer at a shrine at the retreat before his first official engagements on Thursday.
That's when he will receive an official welcome at NSW Government House and pray at Mary MacKillop's tomb, before appearing in public for the first time in a "boat-a-cade" on Sydney Harbour.
The pontiff's crowning moment is expected to take place at Randwick racecourse next Sunday, when he conducts mass for up to 500,000 people, bringing WYD to a close.
The Pope is travelling with his own security agent, and will appear in public in his heavily fortified Popemobile.
His entourage includes Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is in effect the Holy See's prime minister.
