Thursday, July 17, 2008

Pope Benedict meets Australian wildlife

Pope Benedict XVI has become acquainted with a few of the locals, meeting and greeting a coterie of native Australian animals at his bushland retreat.

The Pope, who had requested to see some native Australian fauna during his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day, seemed to have a clear favourite, happily patting a koala for several minutes and chatting with its handler.

However, the 81-year-old appeared slightly uneasy at the sight of Sebastian, a two-metre long carpet python.

The pope exclaimed "Attention", before reaching out gingerly to touch the reptile.

Unlike the 200,000 pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day, the pope did not have to travel to the city's zoo to meet the animals.

Staff from Taronga Zoo brought the natives, including a wallaby, a frill-neck lizard, an echidna and a baby crocodile, to the Kenthurst Study Centre in Sydney's northwest.

The pope patted all of the animals, except the echidna, which - similar to a hedgehog - has sharp spikes on its back.

The pope last night left the centre, where he spent three days recovering from his flight from Rome, and moved into the grounds of St Mary's Cathedral in the centre of Sydney.

Up to half a million people are expected to turn out on Thursday for the pope's first public appearance since his arrival.

As part of celebrations dubbed "super Thursday", the pope will take part in a "boat-a-cade" on Sydney Harbour before addressing 150,000 pilgrims in the city.
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