Pope's Australia Trip to Address Aborigine Rights

(July 11, 2008) A Vatican spokesman says the rights of indigenous Australians -will be a key topic during Benedict XVI's trip Down Under for World Youth Day. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, and Director Vatican radio told journalists Wednesday about some of the details of the Pope's July 12-21 trip, his ninth apostolic journey. The Holy Father will be accompanied by Cardinals Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals; Tarcisio Bertone, his secretary of state; and Agostino Vallini, newly appointed vicar for the Diocese of Rome. Father Lombardi himself will be a member of the papal entourage. Fr Lombardi said that on Saturday, the Pope will leave Castel Gandolfo by helicopter and go to Fiumicino airport, to board the plane to begin his trip to Sydney. Upon arriving Sunday, the Pontiff will rest for a few days in a private retreat centre run by Opus Dei. Cardinal Pell, archbishop of Sydney, will open the WYD celebrations on Tuesday. The following day, the Pope will be received by Governor General Michael Jeffrey and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He will then go to the Mary MacKillop Memorial and continue on to Rose Bay, where he will be welcomed by a group of young Aborigines before embarking on the "Sydney 2000" vessel for his trip to Barangaroo and his official arrival to the Youth Day celebrations. Father Lombardi said that "the topic of the aborigines and their rights trampled for centuries will be very present in this trip, both in the Pope's words as well as in the addresses of civil authorities." The Pope will address on Friday, July 18, at St. Mary's Cathedral the representatives of other religions, and with members of non-Catholic Christian communities. Prior to his departure, the Holy Father will meet with benefactors and volunteers of WYD, inviting them to "'go into the deep' to proclaim the Good News to the whole world."