Pope Benedict inaugurates 'Domus Australia'

On Wednesday afternoon Pope Benedict travels across Rome for the inauguration of a new guest house and pilgrim centre dedicated especially to visitors from 'down under'. The smart, newly restored building is located close to the main Termini train station and boasts state of the art facilities, plus a beautifully decorated chapel offering daily Mass in English. While the guest house is open to visitors from anywhere in the world, the aim of the centre is also to raise the profile of the Catholic Church in Australia and strengthen its ties to the heart of the universal Church here in Rome.
During the inauguration and blessing of the new building, Pope Benedict will be accompanied by the Australian bishops, who are in Rome on their five yearly ad limina visits to the Vatican, and other special guests, including Australia’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer. Philippa Hitchen took a trip across town to the new centre in Via Cernaia with the ambassador to sample this special brand of Aussie hospitality - starting with the name of the building itself…..

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