Pair invited to lunch with Pope

Two Australians have been chosen to share a private lunch with the Pope when he visits Sydney for World Youth Day in July.

Thirty-year-old Theresa Wilson of Melbourne and 21-year-old Craig Ashby from Sydney are among 12 young people selected from around the world.

Ms Wilson, a long-time St Vincent De Paul volunteer, says lunching with Pope Benedict is a dream come true.

"I think it's great that he's taking the time to actually sit down with a small group of people, of young people, and hear their views and their concerns and their thoughts on different issues," she said.

"I think it's a wonderful gesture and I'm really, really looking forward to it."