Pope praises govt apology to aborigines

Pope Benedict XVI lauded the Australian government today for apologising to the country’s indigenous Aborigines for past injustices, saying it offered hope to all the world’s disadvantaged peoples.

The remarks came in a short speech during the Pope’s first public appearance on a 10-day visit to Australia, at a ceremony to officially welcome him to the country led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The pontiff said Australia’s original inhabitants formed an essential part of the cultural landscape of Australia, then made reference to their plight since the first British convict settlers arrived 220 years ago.

“Thanks to the Australian government’s courageous decision to acknowledge the injustices committed against the indigenous peoples in the past, concrete steps are now being taken to achieve reconciliation based on mutual respect,” the Pope said.

“Rightly, you are seeking to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity,” he said. “This example of reconciliation offers hope to peoples all over the world who long to see their rights affirmed and their contribution to society acknowledged and promoted.”

Mr Rudd formally apologised to Aborigines in February as one of his first official acts as prime minister, and has made closing the huge gap between indigenous people and other Australians a priority of his government.

Aborigines are an often-marginalized minority of about 450,000 in a population of 21 million. They are the country’s poorest group, with the highest rates of unemployment, illiteracy, incarceration and alcohol abuse, and a life expectancy 17 years shorter than other Australians.

In his remarks, the Pope also praised Australia for contributing to peacekeeping operations, and touched on the problem of global warming – an issue he has signalled he wants Catholics to think more about.

“With many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time, it is appropriate to reflect upon he kind of world we are handing to the future generations,” said Benedict, who has been dubbed the “green Pope” by some observers.

Benedict emerged from three days of seclusion – a short holiday to help the 81-year-old pontiff recover from the more than 20-hour trip from Rome – to join World Youth Day, a six-day event designed to inspire a new generation of Catholics.

After his official welcome from dignitaries including Mr Rudd at Government House in Sydney, Benedict was driven across the city’s landmark harbour bridge to kneel in prayer at a chapel devoted to Mary MacKillop, celebrated for her work caring for children last century.

Benedict will get a less formal traditional welcome from Aboriginal elders at a waterfront park later Thursday and will then take a boat ride past the Sydney’s Opera house to a former cargo wharf where he will deliver the first of several addresses to a huge crowd of pilgrims.

He will then make a slow procession through downtown in the popemobile – a trip that has virtually shut down parts of the city.