In an attack on popular culture and consumerism in an address to thousands of young Australian Catholics Pope Benedict XVI blasted the Internet, TV and video games for promoting sex and violence as entertainment.

"I ask myself, could anyone standing face to face with people who actually do suffer violence and sexual exploitation explain that these tragedies, portrayed in virtual form, are considered merely entertainment?" he said.

The pontiff is visiting Sydney for World Youth Day, a five-day meeting of young Catholics from around the world.

During his visit down under he is also expected to apologize for years of sexual abuse of children by priests.

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