"The significance of someone acknowledging there was a wrong is very important. When the prime minister apologised to the aboriginal people (for past abuse) there was great sigh of relief," said Respall.
"He (the Pope) is a person of great integrity, he should do something about this situation," he added.
Broken Rites says it will not protest the papal visit but some abuse victims plan to take to the streets calling for an apology, while other people will stage protests against church doctrine by handing out condoms to young pilgrims.
Police have been given extra anti-protest powers to arrest and fine people A$5,5000 (US$5,300) if they annoy or disturb the estimated 500,000 young pilgrims. The laws have the potential to make wearing a T-shirt with an anti-Catholic message a crime.
"There is a lot of good in what the Catholic Church does, but you have these apples in the barrel and they going to fester. Don't let it last another century before you do something," said Respall.
"This has nothing to do with what God has to say, this is what men and women have done."
CHURCH MALAISE
Some leading Catholics in Australia hope Pope Benedict's first visit to Australia will not be dominated by sexual abuse, but instead be used to re-energise the church.
Mainstream churches such as the Catholic and Anglican churches struggle to attract worshippers in Australia, unlike small evangelical churches and Buddhism, the fastest growth faith in Australia.
The majority of Australians consider themselves religious but say faith does not play a big part in their life, according to a survey which showed few regularly pray or visit church.
Respall said he lost his faith after being abused and only now, some 28 years later, has started attending Sunday mass.
"I felt betrayed," he said. "In my victim impact statement I said I wish that God forgives me for my loss of faith."
National politician Tony Abbott, a staunch Catholic who once studied to be a priest, has called on the Pope to reach out to Australia's disillusioned Catholics.
Some 5 million Australians describe themselves as Catholic, but less than one million attend Sunday mass, according to a 2001 census. Today that number might be around 100,000, Abbott said.
If Pope Benedict "leaves Sydney without tackling the malaise of the church, people will feel cheated and World Youth Day will have been a failure", Abbott wrote in a recent news magazine.
"I think what people are wanting, are hoping for, from this visit is a sense that this is a Pope who speaks our language...who appreciates it is not an age that is naturally given to religious faith," he said.
