A Queensland Bishop says the Pope has asked about the welfare of Aborigines during a visit by Australian Catholic Bishops.

The Bishop of Rockhampton Brian Heenan has returned from the Vatican where he had a one-on-one meeting with Pope John Paul II.

He says he told the Pontiff about the church's work with Indigenous people in the diocese, as well as a meeting of Aboriginal leaders within the Catholic church that was held in Adelaide last year.

Bishop Heenan told the Pope how Aboriginal people "remembered his visit to Alice Springs back in 1986 and how his words of encouragement to them still ring in their ears, and they still quote them, that Australia and the Church will not be what it's called to be unless they have a part to play".