Pope Benedict XVI praised the Australian government 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.
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The remarks came as the pope began a busy day of public appearances in Sydney that are expected to draw half a million people to Australia's largest city and its famous harbor.
At a ceremony officially welcoming him to Australia, Benedict said the country's original inhabitants were an essential part of its 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.
He said it was right to try to raise Aborigines out of poverty and raise their health and education standards to the level of other Australians.
"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 said.
In February, new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to Aborigines as one of his first official acts after taking power, and made closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous 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.
Benedict also praised Australia for contributing to foreign peacekeeping operations, and touched on the problem of global warming - an issue he has signaled he wants Roman Catholics to think more about.
"With many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time, it is appropriate to reflect upon the kind of world we are handing to the future generations," said Benedict, who has been dubbed the "green pope" by some observers.
Benedict emerged 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 Roman Catholics.
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