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On Tuesday, pilgrims scarfed down traditional Australian meat pies and mingled along the waterfront. A group of French pilgrims wore stuffed roosters on their heads, which they said were a symbol of France. Nearby, a group of parishioners from Nottingham, England, sported green felt Robin Hood hats. "You see so many nationalities and you realize the church is not just Nottingham. It's a world church," said Father David Cain, who traveled to Sydney with 20 members of the Nottingham diocese. Ronny Guenker, a 32-year-old German pilgrim, said it was a good sign that the pope was visiting the youth festival "because we are the church of the future." Benedict has raised expectations that he will apologize directly to victims of past clergy sexual abuse while he is in Australia, telling reporters he will do everything possible to achieve "healing and reconciliation with the victims." Activists in Australia have demanded the pontiff make a formal apology. Benedict also signaled he will discuss the need to face up to the "great challenge" of caring for the environment, noting that global warming is an issue worrying many young people. Also Tuesday, a federal court struck down a new law that banned people from annoying pilgrims, ruling that it restricted free speech. The ruling cleared the way for the NoToPope Coalition -- a group of gay rights and secular activists opposed to the pope's policies on contraception, abortion and homosexuality
-- to hand out condoms and coat hangers -- symbolizing abortions -- to pilgrims at a Saturday demonstration.
[Associated
Press;
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