Benedict, due to attend the Church's World Day of Youth, told reporters on his plane everything possible would be done to prevent a recurrence and to promote healing among the victims.
Broken Rites, a group which represents abuse victims in Australia, has a list of 107 convictions but says the real figure is higher because only a small number go to court.
"It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and also to see (its) guilt," said Benedict.
"It must be clear being a priest is incompatible with this behavior because priests are in the service of our Lord," he said.
"We have to reflect on what was insufficient and our education and our teaching (of priests). This is the essential content of what we will say (as we) apologize."
Source: Reuters
