Australia's senior Catholic leader said Sunday he would welcome Pope Benedict XVI addressing the issue of paedophile priests when he visits for World Youth Day next month.The pontiff apologised for the actions of child-abusing clergy during a visit to the United States in April, leading to speculation he may do the same for victims of predator priests in Australia.
Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell said Australian bishops had already apologised for instances of child sex abuse, but that if the pope commented on the issue "it would probably be a welcome contribution."
"We're not proud," Pell said. "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."
The pope is due to arrive in Australia on July 13 and take three days vacation before his official welcome to Sydney at a harbourside ceremony for the start of World Youth Day.
The event, which will conclude on July 20 with a papal mass, is organised by the Catholic Church for young people to celebrate and learn about their faith.
Pell said he expected between 100,000 and 120,000 pilgrims to travel from overseas and 80,000 to 100,000 from within Australia for the event.
He said the number of pilgrims coming from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands was double the anticipated number and had reached 6,000.
Pell defended the city's hosting of the event, which will see roads closed and other disruptions, saying he was confident it would prove profitable.
"There are many more Catholics than, for example, followers of rugby union and so it's appropriate for the government to sponsor both say the Rugby Union World Cup (in 2003) and the World Youth Day," he said.
"And one reason, perhaps not the most important one, is because of the financial benefits that the whole of Australia will gain."
The first World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986 and the event is now held in an international host city every two to three years. The last was in Cologne, Germany, in 2005.
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