Pope Benedict will make the longest visit of his pontificate in July, a 10-day trip to Australia that will include ample flying and rest time, the Vatican said.

The 81-year-old pope will visit Sydney to mark the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day, an international jamboree of young Catholics from around the world.

The Pope leaves Rome on July 12 and arrives in Sydney the next day after a refuelling stop in Darwin. He will have more than three days of private time, mostly for rest, before being officially welcomed on Thursday, July 17 by government leaders as well as by representatives of Aborigines and crowds as he rides in a boat in Sydney Harbour.

Benedict presides at various events connected to World Youth Day and the Australian Catholic Church for four days before leaving for Rome on the morning of Monday, July 21.

There have been reports that Benedict will also meet privately with victims of sexual abuse by priests in Australia. He held such an encounter in Washington during his trip to the United States in April.

It will be Benedict's 9th trip outside Italy since his election in April, 2005.