Pope leaves Rome for Australia trip

Pope Benedict leaves Rome to preside at 'World Day of Youth events' in Australia.

Pope Benedict left Rome on Saturday for a trip to Australia to preside at the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Youth events.

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The chartered Alitalia B777 plane carrying the pope, his entourage and journalists left Rome's Fiumicino airport for the 15 hour, 45 minute non-stop flight to Darwin, where it will make a re-fuelling stop before continuing to Sydney.

He returns to Rome on July 21 at the end of his ninth trip outside Italy since his election in 2005.