The meeting, on June 24, will be part of a pilgrimage of Australian bishops to the Vatican, the first in eight years.

Expected to be a group session with other bishops instead of a one-on-one meeting, Bishop Bird said he expects to also meet with other Vatican staff, and will discuss the diocese's schools, welfare programs, and child safety policies, as well as Ballarat-based issues.

"I understand the Pope is in the practice of asking a lot of questions, he will be asking for information on not only what's happening in each country, but what the bishops are doing in response to the needs for each country," he said.

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"I'd hope we'd be able to bring the actual situation, with all its strengths and weaknesses in Australia, for example, the devotion of people and their prayer persevering even in difficult times, and the schools and social services, but at the same time, recognising the tragic history of abuse that we've come from.

"It's a time for reflection and discussion and sharing of views, and I think we can bring that to the Pope and invite his comments and his leadership for us."

The Ad Limini Apostolorum is a pilgrimage bishops are required to make to the tombs of the apostles St Paul and St Peter in Rome.

The visit falls between the Vatican's February summit on child protection, attended by the Archbishop of Brisbane, and the planned 2020 plenary council in Adelaide and Sydney, the first time the entire Catholic Church in Australia has met as a whole since 1937.

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