By VICTOR L. SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago
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Benedict's plane landed in the northern city of Darwin in the
morning after a more than 20-hour flight from the Vatican. His plane
was making a brief refueling stop before flying to Sydney, where he
will lead celebrations at the World Youth Day festival.
Benedict, 81, will spend three days resting at a retreat in Sydney
before taking part in the festival, including a vigil service with
thousands of young people and an outdoor Mass.
The pope met with reporters aboard his plane during the flight, and
was asked about climate change following discussions on the
environment during this month's Group of Eight summit in Japan.
There is a need to "wake up consciences," Benedict responded. "We
have to give impulse to rediscovering our responsibility and to
finding an ethical way to change our way of life."
Benedict said politicians and experts must be "capable of responding
to the great ecological challenge and to be up to the task of this
challenge."
"We have our responsibilities toward creation," Benedict said,
stressing, however, that he had no intention of weighing in on
technical or political questions swirling around climate change.
Benedict said he would also address the problem of sexual abuse by
Catholic clergy. He reiterated his view that sexual abuse
is "incompatible with the behavior" required of priests.
At the start of his U.S. pilgrimage, Benedict had said he
was "deeply ashamed" of the abuse scandal and pledged to work to
make sure pedophiles do not become priests.
Benedict said that during the 10-day visit to Australia he would
work for "healing and reconciliation with the victims" of sexual
abuse by Catholic clergy there "just as I did in the United States"
earlier this year.
Clergy abuse support groups in Australia have demanded that Benedict
apologize during his visit for the abuse they suffered. The exact
number of victims of clergy abuse in Australia is not known, though
activists say they number in thousands.
Benedict acknowledged that the Church in the West was "in crisis"
but insisted it was not in decline. "I am an optimist" about its
future, he said.
The Australia pilgrimage is the longest in his three-year-old papacy
and will test the pontiff's stamina.
Although aides say the pope is in fine health, the Vatican appeared
to be taking no chances to ensure Benedict is fit for World Youth
Day, canceling a weekly public audience this past Wednesday and most
other meetings to give him as much rest as possible.
After he succeeded John Paul three years ago, Benedict said he
doubted he would make many long trips. But invitations keep coming
in from world leaders and officials of his global 1-billion member
flock.
He visited Brazil last year, made a pilgrimage to the United States
in April and will travel to France in September.
Benedict will be greeted at Sydney Harbor Thursday by a group of
Aborigines and other young people from the Pacific Basin and deliver
what is expected to be an important address. In 2001, John Paul
issued a formal apology to the indigenous peoples of Australia, New
Zealand and the Pacific islands for injustices perpetrated by
Catholic missionaries.
Australia's senior Catholic leader, Cardinal George Pell has been
accused of badly handling a sexual abuse claim and this week agreed
to reopen investigations into the 25-year-old case.
posted to ClimateConcern