More than 30 Indian youths disappear in New Zealand

All were billeted with church members in Auckland under a so-called Days in the Diocese programme before going to Australia, where Pope Benedict arrived Sunday for events associated with World Youth Day.

Freear said all the Indian pilgrims had been given 30-day visas when they arrived.

Their disappearance was "most extraordinary and most disappointing", she said.

She said the 32 who had disappeared from their billets did not have their passports with them and added, "We don't know whether this was planned or spontaneous."

She said that New Zealand immigration officials had been informed about their disappearance