Pope Benedict XVI has retired to Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence near Rome, to spend a few days recuperating from his nine-day Australian tour.During his visit to Australia, the 81-year-old pontiff attended World Youth Day events and made a historic apology to victims of sexual abuse by priests in the country.
The trip to Australia was the farthest and longest taken by the pope, according to the Vatican press office.
The Pope on Sunday wrapped up a week of festivities with a mass delivered to 400,000 pilgrims.
First launched in 1986 by late pope John Paul II, the six-day youth festival aims to make the Roman Catholic Church more popular among young people.
The pope will resume official engagements Friday, when he is set to receive Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at Castel Gandolfo.
World Youth Day 2011 will be hosted in Madrid. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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