http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25759142-26040,00.html
For Pope Benedict, Kevin Rudd brings an apology and a crate of wine Lenore Taylor, The Vatican | July 10, 2009 Article from: The Australian KEVIN Rudd presented the Pope with a leather-bound copy of the Australian parliament's motion of apology to the Stolen Generations during a 20-minute audience at the Vatican last night. During the meeting in the ornately decorated library of the papal apartments, the Prime Minister also gave the pontiff six bottles of De Bortoli Noble One dessert wine in a small wooden crate. "It's very sweet," Mr Rudd said as he presented the wine to the Pope. "You should think of us when you are here in the Vatican on a warm summer's night." In handing over the leather tome, Mr Rudd told the Pope: "This is the motion to the parliament where I said sorry." The Pope gave Mr Rudd a signed copy of his recent encyclical on truth and charity. He also presented him with a pen that replicates the design of one of the bronze altar columns in St Peter's Basilica. "It's most beautiful, it's wonderful," Mr Rudd said as he examined the pen. Before the meeting, Mr Rudd had noted that the Pope's encyclical, which urged world leaders to give more consideration to ethics and values as they responded to the economic crisis was a welcome contribution "which all political leaders should take seriously and examine". He raised with the Pope the campaign by Australia's Sisters of St Joseph to have their founder, Mary MacKillop, canonised to become Australia's first saint. For sainthood, Rome must recognise that MacKillop has performed two miracles. Speaking before his audience, Mr Rudd said MacKillop had been "a very strong woman who did exceptional work for the poor at a difficult time of economic duress in Australia". He said he had promised the Sisters of St Joseph he would pass on their excitement at the possibility that she could be canonised. Mr Rudd was joined at the meeting by Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, his former political foe and Howard government deputy prime minister Tim Fischer. He was greeted by Vatican officials and an honour guard of the colourfully dressed Swiss Guard before his 20-minute audience. The meeting came just before Mr Rudd left Rome for the mountainous earthquake zone to the north of the city where he will join G8 and developing nation leaders for discussions about climate change and food security
