July 17, 2008 Pope Benedict describes Australia as "courageous" Play video

(NECN/ABC) - Pope Benedict XVI praised the Australian government on Thursday for its "courageous" apology to the country's indigenous Aborigines for past injustices, saying it offered hope to all the world's disadvantaged peoples.

The remarks came in the Pope's first public appearance on a ten-day visit to Australia to lead the Roman Catholic church's youth festival, which has drawn more than 200-thousand pilgrims to Sydney from across the world.

Benedict said Australia's original inhabitants were an essential part of the country's cultural landscape, and cited 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," Benedict 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," the Pope added.

In February, Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to Aborigines as one of his first official acts after being elected to power. He has made closing a gap between

Aborigines are an often-marginalised minority of about 450,000 in a population of 21 (m) 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.

Benedict emerged on Thursday 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 Rudd and Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery 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, who many Catholics here hope will be named as Australia's first saint during the Pope's visit.

Celebrated for her work caring for children last century, MacKillop was canonised in 1995 during a visit to Australia by Pope John Paul II.

Later Benedict was given a traditional welcome by Aboriginal elders at a waterfront park and took a boat ride past the Sydney's Opera house to a former cargo wharf where he delivered the first of several addresses to a huge crowd of pilgrims.

He then made a slow procession through the city centre in the popemobile - a trip that has virtually shut down parts of the city.