Pope sorry for child sex abuse

Sydney, July 19: Pope Benedict XVI apologised on Saturday to victims of child sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, describing their acts as "evil" and a grave betrayal of trust.

"I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country," Pope Benedict said during an address in Australia.

"I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured," the Pope said. "I assure them as their pastor that I too share in their suffering."

He said those responsible for these "evils must be brought to justice."

Support groups for victims of church abuse in Australia, whose numbers are not known but who activists say are in the thousands, had demanded the Pope make a full and open apology for clergy abuse and do more to prevent future abuse.The pontiff is in Australia to lead hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the church’s World Youth Day. There was no immediate word whether Pope Benedict would meet with victims of clergy abuse, as he did during his US trip. —AP

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Anti-Pope activists toss condoms at pilgrims

Sydney, July 19: More than 500 anti-Pope activists faced off against happy pilgrims on Saturday, shouting their distaste at papal policies as thousands of Catholic youth streamed past on their way to an evening address by Pope Benedict XVI.

The "NoToPope coalition", some costumed as nuns, devils and priests, lined the edge of a park on the route of the pilgrims’ march, tightly ringed by the police. "The Pope is wrong, put a condom on!" they shouted through megaphones. Some threw condoms at the passing pilgrims. But the young Catholics were at first curious, then smiled and waved and began their own singsong chants. —AP