Pope Benedict XVI visited Australia during World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. He had occasion to visit again in 2010, when he canonised St Mary of the Cross Mackillop as Australia's first recognised saint.
Parishioners also marked his passing in Sunday services around the country.Religious leaders, political figures and churchgoers around Australia haveArchbishop Anthony Fisher met the former Pope when he travelled to Australia for World Youth Day hosted in Sydney in 2008. The pair also met during several private audiences in Rome.Pope Benedict XVI arrives for the Final Mass for World Youth Day in Sydney on 20 July 2008.
At a Vietnamese mass in Sydney’s West, Priest Joseph Nguyen told SBS News the community was praying for the former Pope. "Yesterday, I heard he had passed away. Today, when I deliver mass, the Vietnamese community will pray for him," he said."His legacy is short as the pope, but we always appreciate what he has done for Catholic community around the world and we pray for him," one churchgoer said."Saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, this evening,"Nationals MP Michael McCormack said the former pontiffs visits to Australia will be remembered fondly.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests , headquartered in the US but with a branch in Australia, said they are not mourning his passing. "In our view, the death of Pope Benedict XVI is a reminder that, much like John Paul II, Benedict was more concerned about the church’s deteriorating image and financial flow to the hierarchy versus grasping the concept of true apologies followed by true amends to victims of abuse," the group said in a statement.
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