Sex abuse: Pope to say sorry

2008-07-07 07:35

Sydney - Pope Benedict XVI is expected to apologise to victims of sexual abuse by clergy when he visits Australia for World Youth Day next week, the leader of the country's Catholics said on Monday.

Cardinal George Pell said the pope had expressed shame and regret over the scandal of paedophile priests during his visit to the United States earlier this year and it was likely he would do the same in Australia.

"He handled it very well in the United States and I anticipate he'll do the same here," Pell told public radio.

Australian bishops issued an apology for sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in 2002, and Pell has said papal comments on the issue would be "a welcome contribution".

"We're not proud," he said last month. "We faced up to it, I think pretty well for quite some time now, and I think it would be appropriate for the pope to say something on that score."

Benedict is due to arrive in Australia on Sunday and take three days vacation before his official welcome to Sydney at a harbourside ceremony for the start of World Youth Day celebrations.

Hundreds of thousands of foreign and local Catholics are expected to attend the six-day event, which will conclude on July 20 with a papal mass.

The cost to taxpayers and disruption of normal life in Sydney have led to complaints about the celebrations, but Pell said they were supported by the vast majority of residents.

"We've had access to polling and it said overwhelmingly Australians and Sydneysiders were in favour of World Youth Day.

"Only about 10 or 11% felt that they were strongly opposed."

Pell also dismissed concerns expressed by civil rights groups about special powers enabling police to arrest anyone deemed to be "causing annoyance" to pilgrims.

"We've asked for no extra rules or regulations, it's a complete storm in a tea cup," he said.

- AFP