Pope Benedict XVI has said he will use his visit to Australia to apologise for sexual abuse by priests.
'We have to consider what was insufficient in our behaviour and how we can prevent, heal, reconcile,' Benedict told reporters aboard his plane as he headed to Australia to lead the Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations.
'This is the essential content of what we will say as we apologise,' the pontiff said.
The World Youth Day celebrations have already been partly overshadowed by yesterday's launch of an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against a disgraced Australian priest and embroiled the leader of the Catholic Church in Australia in allegations of a cover-up.
The Pope also said today that he will pray a Church of England schism can be avoided after its controversial decision to approve the ordination of women bishops.
