Pope resting up in Australia

SYDNEY, July 14 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI spent Monday resting up in Sydney, getting ready for his World Youth Day appearances this week.

The 81-year-old spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics appeared in good health following his 20-hour trip from Rome, an Australian bishop told the Melbourne Herald Sun.

"He seemed to me to be very fit -- considering his age, he's quite remarkable," Bishop Anthony Fisher said. "He's got no bags under his eyes -- he's had a good rest and I think he's loving his time here."

The bishop, who is coordinating the World Youth Day event, and Cardinal George Pell had lunch with Pope Benedict at his temporary residence at the Kenthurst Study Centre in Sydney and then strolled around the campus.

Elsewhere in the city, hundreds of Catholic pilgrims were seen waving their arms, cheering, singing and chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Oi, Oi, Oi."

Meanwhile, an elite officer assigned to the papal security detail was treated for minor burns to his hand after accidentally setting off a "distraction device" Sunday night while preparing for duty near the pope's retreat, Deputy New South Wales Police Commissioner Dave Owens said.

He said there was no security breach and the pope was not disturbed.

"The staging area where this incident occurred is nowhere near the papal lodgings," Owens said.