Pope to say sorry for sexual abuse in Australia
Updated
Pope Benedict the 16th says he will apologise for a sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church in Australia, saying paedophilia is "incompatible" with being a priest.
The plane carrying Pope Benedict arrived in the Northern Territory before flying to Sydney's Richmond Airbase around three o'clock local time this afternoon.
Speaking at a news conference before leaving Rome for World Youth Day in Australia, the Pope said he will make similar comments to those made during a trip to the United States last April.
Catholic leaders have hailed the announcement.
World Youth Day co-ordinator, Sydney Catholic Bishop Anthony Fisher says he hopes the acknowledgment will be part of the healing process for victims.
"Many of the victims will be heartened by the Holy Father's frankness about this, his willingness to confront it and his encouragement to the leaders of the church and the members of the church to do the right thing in this very difficult area. "
However, an Australian support group for victims of sexual assault within the Catholic Church has called on the Pope to make an apology that is "meaningful" to sex abuse victims of the church.
A spokesman for Broken Rites, Doctor Bernard Barrett says if the apology is similar to one given to American victims earlier this year it won't be good enough.
On his arrival in Sydney, the pope will be greeted by the Prime Minister, the premier and church officials before travelling by car to a private retreat centre where the 81-year-old will spend the next three days recovering from his 22-hour flight from Rome.
On Thursday afternoon Pope Benedict will sail around Sydney Harbour ahead of his official welcoming ceremony, which authorities expect hundreds of thousands to attend.
He will then lead the stations of the cross re-enactment in central Sydney on Friday afternoon.
The major event of the week for pilgrims is the closing mass which the Pope will preside over next Sunday.
