Prelate: JPII Generation Proud to Follow Benedict XVI

"Your Holiness, the World Youth Days were the invention of Pope John Paul the Great," Cardinal Pell recalled. "The World Youth Day in Cologne was already announced before your election. You decided to continue the World Youth Days and to hold this one in Sydney. We are profoundly grateful for this decision, indicating that the World Youth Days do not belong to one pope, or even one generation, but are now an ordinary part of the life of the Church. The John Paul II generation, young and old alike, is proud to be faithful sons and daughters of Pope Benedict."

At this, the Holy Father raised his hands and the crowd erupted into cheers.

Beautiful

Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, addressed the Pontiff and the pilgrims, saying the youth are "a wonderful illustration of a young Church, filled with hope, with the joy of faith, and with missionary courage."

He said that during World Youth Day, "in so many languages and in many different ways, they have proclaimed Jesus Christ, the only savior of humanity. They have given witness that to be disciples of Christ is very rewarding; to be Christian is a very beautiful thing! Throughout these few days we have been present at a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have been aware of the breath and power of the Spirit among us."

Cardinal Rylko thanked Benedict XVI for his "paternal presence," saying it is "great encouragement for us because it is an eloquent sign of the love of the Church for the young generations. In you, Holy Father, we see a Church that is a friend to young people: a Church that listens to them, searches them out, accompanies them and teaches them."

Finally, he noted that the conclusion of World Youth Day is really just a beginning.

"Holy Father," the cardinal said, "the culminating point of the 23rd World Youth Day has come: the sending out on mission. In a year that is dedicated to St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, this takes on a very special significance. Recalling Paul's powerful missionary zeal -- "Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!" -- all of these young people wish to set out from Sydney to their respective countries and the places where they live and there to be young missionaries of Christ and the Gospel.

"They are very aware of what you once told us: 'There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Christ and to speak to others of our friendship with him. (...) Christ takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.'"

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Cardinal: Pope's Meeting With Abuse Victims Positive

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Vocations Expo Attracted 2,500 Pilgrims per Hour

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Pilgrims Inspire Low Crime, Ecumenism

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As Benedict XVI left Sydney on Monday morning, newspapers, radio and television reports were filled with comments about the World Youth Day success and the mark the Pope was leaving on Australia.

ZENIT got a few perspectives from a variety of Australians involved in the event.

After saying good-bye to the Bishop of Rome, Cardinal George Pell held a press conference at the World Youth Day International Media Center in Darling Harbor.

He suggested that the event gave the Church a new standing in the public sphere. Regarding life issues, for instance, the cardinal contended that the public will be more ready to realize "that we Catholics have something to say on those subjects and will potentially give us a respectful hearing."

The archbishop of Sydney added, "This World Youth Day has demonstrated that the great majority of Australians are quite open to what we have to say."

"They might disagree with us," he acknowledged, "but they recognize us as being in the mainstream of Australian life; that religious considerations are important; people need meaning and purpose; and that overwhelmingly, people recognize the necessity of being open to the transcendent."

The prelate added, "In the past, we Catholics might have been too interested just in ourselves. Now we are saying very clearly we have something to offer to the rest of the Australian population."

Auxiliary Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney reflected on the reverence the young people showed during the week. He suggested one of the highlights of World Youth Day was something that received relatively little attention: the morning catechesis sessions. These sessions, which ran Tuesday through Saturday, brought prelates and youth together for teaching, questions-and-answers and Mass.

"All the bishops noted how responsive the young people were in the catechesis situations and also the times like adoration and the final Stations of the Cross," Bishop Porteous said. "The young people were deeply engrossed and reverent.

"We feel that there's a new depth of Church experience for young people that's already springing out, which gives us great hope for the fruitfulness."

He added that the Sydney event once again proved that World Youth Days "really have a capacity to effectively engage at a pastoral and spiritual level with young people."

Benedict XVI announced Sunday that the next World Youth Day will be hosted by Madrid, Spain, in 2011.

The real story

Bishop Porteous, who is the director of Sydney's Good Shepherd Seminary, pointed out that not all press reports have been positive, but he suggested that certain journalistic spins were simply inaccurate. For example, the prelate noted, some international agencies presented the quiet at the final Mass as a certain coldness.

But, he said, 400,000 people in silence was simply reverence. After Communion at the closing Mass, an announcement was made that there would be a few moments of silence since the faithful had just received the Lord.

The bishop told ZENIT the story of a youth who approached him to say the Holy Father's homily had had a deep impact on him.

"I noticed some criticism from the secular reports about the Pope's homily being 'too theological,' [saying that it] risked being lost on the youth," Bishop Porteous said. "But this young person was adamant that perhaps the journalists weren't in tune as much with what the Pope had to say because they were listening to it with different ears.

"He said, 'We are the audience and therefore we received and welcomed the Holy Father's words.'"

On his way to the airport, Monsignor Francis Kohn director of the youth section at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, told ZENIT that he was genuinely thankful to the host nation.

"It's clear that the youth are happy and content," he said. "The events were stimulating and faith-filled. I believe that we've seen a new Pentecost during this time, and that the youth seem prepared to respond to the call of this Pope to be witnesses. So we are enthused and excited about the effect the events had on them and the fruits that are yet to come."

Once a month

The youth didn't impress Catholic leaders alone. Their influence crossed religious and social boundaries.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said that statistically, Sydney's crime rate this week was the lowest it's been in a long time. He attributed that to the presence of the pilgrims and a general "sense of spirituality" in the air. He told Sky News that extra police forces on hand seemed almost unnecessary, since the pilgrims were well-mannered and well-behaved.

Alex Dorcas, who owns a restaurant on Macquarie Street, where the popemobile passed, told ZENIT that the youth event inspires unity, a comment the Pope would have been glad to hear. The Holy Father met with Christian leaders at an ecumenical meeting on Friday.

"Though I'm Orthodox," Dorcas said, "I have seen from the gentility and spark of these young people who came into my restaurant over these days, that the faith is alive and well, and that this sort of event breeds new opportunities for unity -- I wish we could have one a month!"

An honor

Before leaving Australia, Benedict XVI had a special word of thanks for those Sydneysiders who hosted pilgrims in their homes. Elizabeth Wheeler was one of them, hosting two pilgrims.

She told ZENIT during the Holy Father's "thank you" event that it was "an honor to have been able to partake in the celebrations through the gift of Christian hospitality."

"It's equally humbling for the Pope to be here in the Domain thanking us, as what all of us did just feels like a natural extension of what we should be doing anyway," Wheeler added.

Carmen Alberto worked as a volunteer behind the scenes at World Youth Day, helping with the database for event accreditation. She said that despite the intensity of the week, she wouldn't have declined the opportunity to be a part of the experience: "It represented the little I could do to ensure the well-being of pilgrims and the correct functionality of something that has the capacity to change the face of the world."

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After Youth Day, What Now?

By Kathleen Naab

MIAMI, Florida, JULY 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- God Squad, a ministry dedicated to evangelizing through the media, has a solution for Youth Day pilgrims eager to stay in touch with new friends they met in Sydney.

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Benedict XVI: Church Can Be Hopeful for Tomorrow

The Pope affirmed this Monday morning at his last farewell before boarding the plane that would take him back to Rome. The Pope left Australia at about 10:30 a.m. local time.

"Before I take my leave, I wish to say to my hosts how much I have enjoyed my visit here and how grateful I am for your hospitality," the Holy Father said. He went on to thank the government officials present, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery.

Rudd told the Pope, "Your Holiness, it feels very much that you have already become one with us, indeed, that you have become one of us."

The prime minister also introduced the Holy Father to the first Australian resident ambassador to the Holy See, Tim Fischer. Previously, Australia's ambassador to Dublin also represented the nation at the Vatican. Fischer is expected to take up his appointment in early 2009.

Benedict XVI had a special word of gratitude for the host families who received pilgrims into their homes. "You have opened your doors and your hearts to the world's youth, and on their behalf I thank you," he said.

The Pope then turned his attention to the pilgrims.

"The principal actors on the stage over these last few days, of course, have been the young people themselves," he said. "World Youth Day is their day. It is they who have made this a global ecclesial event, a great celebration of youth and a great celebration of what it is to be the Church, the people of God throughout the world, united in faith and love and empowered by the Spirit to bear witness to the risen Christ to the ends of the earth.

"I thank them for coming, I thank them for their participation, and I pray that they will have a safe journey home. I know that the young people, their families and their sponsors have in many cases made great sacrifices to enable them to travel to Australia. For this the entire Church is grateful."

Overview

Benedict XVI said the days of this last week were "stirring" and he said that many scenes stand out in his mind.

He thanked the Sisters of St. Joseph for his visit to the shrine of Blessed Mary MacKillop.

"The Stations of the Cross in the streets of Sydney were a powerful reminder that Christ loved us 'to the end' and shared our sufferings so that we could share his glory," the Holy Father continued.

Referring to his meeting with youth who have histories of drug addiction and other problems, the Pontiff said: "The meeting with the young people at Darlinghurst was a moment of joy and great hope, a sign that Christ can lift us out of the most difficult situations, restoring our dignity and enabling us to look forward to a brighter future."

But "without a doubt," the Pontiff went on, "the gatherings at Barangaroo and Southern Cross were high-points of my visit."

The Pope was welcomed Thursday on a boat-a-cade at Barangaroo. And the Southern Cross Precinct was the site of the Saturday evening vigil and Sunday closing Mass with some 400,000 people.

"Those experiences of prayer, and our joyful celebration of the Eucharist, were an eloquent testimony to the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, present and active in the hearts of our young people," he said. "World Youth Day has shown us that the Church can rejoice in the young people of today and be filled with hope for the world of tomorrow."

The Bishop of Rome concluded his farewell, saying, "May God bless the people of Australia!"

He left Sydney on a Qantas flight bound for the Vatican. The plane was scheduled to refuel in Darwin, Australia, before traveling on.

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More Blessed to Give Than Receive, Pope Recalls

The Pope said this Sunday evening in a brief address to benefactors and organizers of the 23rd World Youth Day. The Holy Father left Australia Monday morning local time.

"Cardinal [George] Pell [of Sydney] has alluded to the great sacrifices which you have made in organizing this wonderful day in the life of the Church," the Holy Father said. "I thank you personally, not only for those sacrifices, but even more for the confidence you have shown in our young people and your trust in God's grace at work in their hearts. Let us pray that the investment which so many of you have made in them will bear fruit in their own lives, for the life of Christ's Church and for the future of our world."

Alluding to the theme of the youth event, the Pontiff said: "I am sure, dear friends, that your own participation in the preparations for this World Youth Day has given you a particular experience of the Holy Spirit's power.

"No doubt while planning this great international gathering, and trying to face every possible eventuality, you had your moments of worry and concern, and even fear and trepidation about how things would finally turn out. Now, in retrospect, you can see the abundant harvest which the Spirit has brought forth from your prayers, your perseverance and your hard work. How many good seeds have been sown in these short days!"

Some 400,000 people crowded Randwick Racecourse for the closing Mass on Sunday, making it the biggest gathering ever on Australian soil.

"Dear friends," Benedict XVI added, "St. Paul, who devoted his entire life to the service of the Gospel, reminds us that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' Your generosity and sacrifice have been an essential, yet often hidden, ingredient in the success of this World Youth Day. [...] May you never doubt the truth of our Lord's promise that, whenever we give our creativity, energy, resources, and our very selves to him, we will gain them back abundantly."

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Pontiff: Youth Day Was "Wonderful Experience"

The Pope affirmed this Monday morning local time in a brief address to thank the volunteers who worked at the event.

"I am pleased to have this opportunity to bid farewell to all of you and to say what a wonderful experience this week has been," the Holy Father said. "During these days we have been able to witness at first hand the joy that so many thousands of young people find in their faith, and we have been able to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us."

Alluding to the theme for the youth event, the Pontiff told the volunteers: "Your efforts have prepared the ground for the Spirit to come down in power, forging bonds of unity and friendship among young people from widely differing backgrounds, and rekindling their love for Jesus Christ and his Church."

Benedict XVI said the youth represented the catholicism of the Church.

"In the crowds that have assembled here in Sydney we have seen a vivid expression of the unity-in-diversity of the universal Church, a vision in microcosm of the united human family that we long to see," he said. "In the power of the Spirit, may these young people make that vision a reality in the world of tomorrow."

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Pope Offers Consolation to Abuse Victims

According to a statement from the Vatican press office, the Mass was an "expression of [the Pope's] ongoing pastoral concern for those who have been abused by members of the clergy."

The statement said that the gathering was a "representative group of victims."

Press reports informed it was made up of four victims, with their supporters and families.

After Mass, the Holy Father met with the victims for about a half hour.

"He listened to their stories and offered them consolation," the Vatican reported. "Assuring them of his spiritual closeness, he promised to continue to pray for them, their families and all victims. Through this paternal gesture, the Holy Father wished to demonstrate again his deep concern for all those who have suffered sexual abuse."

According to the Australian newspaper, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney later said: "It was a service of reconciliation and healing. It was a small gathering which we hope will send out a message of the genuine sorrow of the Pope and of the Australian bishops."

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Youth Day Said to Reveal an Australian Secret

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Australians are more spiritual than they thought, says the auxiliary bishop who headed up the organization of World Youth Day.

Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney told ZENIT that the youth event, which ended Sunday with a closing Mass attended by some 400,000 people, transformed regular citizens into pilgrims.

Though the prelate admitted Australians are very "comfortable" with their "good life," he said there was an overwhelmingly positive response to key events, including the 250,000 who cheered Benedict XVI through Sydney's streets after he arrived to a crowd of 150,000 at a disused shipping port, Barangaroo.

This proves, Bishop Fisher suggested, that Australians are less apathetic and more enthusiastic than they may have thought themselves to be.

"We often talk of Australia as being a secular country, as if the view that religion has to be privatized or abolished has won," the bishop said. "But the day the Pope arrived, I was astonished. Surely all the people were at Barangaroo welcoming him; there can't be more. But there were more and more lining the streets of Sydney to see him in the papal motocade.

"We know in fact that most people still say, when asked, that they believe in God and they pray sometimes and say they're Christians. So Australia isn't as agnostic as it's portrayed.

"That's been demonstrated in the way people have responded to a spiritual event -- not with hostility."

Blueprint

Bishop Fisher said he believes it will be Australia's youth that will reinvigorate both the social and spiritual life of Australia, with the working of the Holy Spirit, of course.

He contended that the Pope outlined a blueprint for the social and spiritual renewal of the nation.

"We've seen a new generation that have their own passions and ideals, which resonated with the things we heard the Pope saying about what they could do and what they can do with God's grace for the world," Bishop Fisher said. "[The Pope] has provided us with a program for the spiritual and social renewal of our country and offered young people the encouragement and inspiration to go out and do that.

"We're going to have 125,000 Australians come home to their parishes, schools, universities and agencies, whether they were pilgrims or volunteers at World Youth Day. We would hope that there's going to be a new life and energy in every corner of the Church, especially youth ministry, which will obviously be bigger and better as a result of World Youth Day.

"There are so many people newly committed to working with young people, who will be leading and serving the Church, some of which is unpredictable.

"Previous hosts have reported that things have sprung up in their countries that no pastoral planner proposed. It was the confidence and inspiration it gave to young people when they got home."

A variety of Sydney citizens were transformed into pilgrims, drawn by the positive spirit of the Australian and international guests, the prelate noted.

"Train and bus drivers have asked to take extra shifts because they love being part of this; policemen have told me that they've been thanked by people on the streets for the first time in their lives," Bishop Fisher said. "Whether it's train drivers of security or health officials, they became pilgrims too, sharing the experience."

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Why Youth Day '11 Will be Key for Spain

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- At Benedict XVI's announcement that the next World Youth Day will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Madrid, red and yellow flags went flying up across the field in Sydney's Southern Cross Precinct.

Nineteen-year-old Paola Callas and 20-year-old Miriam Ramírez said they couldn't emphasize enough the importance of this event for their country.

"It's so necessary that Madrid may be able to experience a living Church as we have done here in Sydney over this week," said Callas.

"People don't associate the Church with relevance, joy or even fun over in Spain," added Ramírez. "We have a lot of political upheavals and secularism taking over the contemporary climate so it would be relevant for youth to experience the truths of the Church in a package like that of World Youth Day."

The Church in Spain was host to the successful 4th World Youth Day almost 20 years ago in Santiago de Compostela. In a press conference held after the announcement, Spanish youth said the fruits of that 1989 event were faithful parents and vocations. But, they added, that was at least one generation ago. Many of the pilgrims in Sydney this week were not even born yet.

"Since then," said Isabel Borges, "lots of young people don't believe in anything any more, and perhaps the World Youth Day will be useful to touch their consciences."

A journalist of the Spanish episcopal conference, Ivan de Vargas, said that Youth Day in Madrid would run from Aug. 15-21, 2011, but they are already expecting the Pope to arrive a week earlier.

He added that, notwithstanding tough issues in Spanish culture, "Spain is a land which loves the Pope, and on this occasion, the people will be able to show him all their affection."

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Organizers Say They're Thrilled

"This is a good time to be Catholic," Cardinal George Pell of Sydney stated matter-of-factly at the beginning of his weekly column in the Sunday Telegraph.

Chief operating officer Danny Casey said World Youth Day has been a success for the host city and the Catholic Church in Australia.

"It was an extraordinary sight to see more than 400,000 people gather for Mass on a gray Sunday," Casey said. "This is certainly the largest Catholic Mass ever celebrated in our country."

After over 200,000 pilgrims slept overnight at the venue following the evening vigil with the Pope, hundreds of thousands arrived the next morning for Sunday's Mass, the final official activity on the program.

Benedict XVI waved and greeted pilgrims as he made his way through the giant crowd before the commencement of the Mass.

As well as celebrating with those in attendance, the Holy Father also thanked Sydney for hosting the week-long festivities. He then announced Madrid as the next host city for World Youth Day in 2011.

"It has been an unforgettable week," said Father Mark Podesta, Youth Day spokesperson, who also concelebrated the final Mass with the Bishop of Rome. "Both the formal celebrations and the presence of the Holy Father have allowed the joy of so many young Catholics to infiltrate our international city."

Benedict XVI left Australia on Monday morning local time at about 10:30 a.m.

Cardinal Pell shared his thoughts and anecdotal experiences in his column.

"All Sydney," he wrote, "and not just Catholic Sydney, has taken the pilgrims to their hearts. Pilgrims have told me personally how Sydneysiders, often not Catholics, have gone out of their way to help, such as the Islamic school which provided accommodation for a significant group from the U.S.A."

"Naturally it was a first to travel in the Mercedes popemobile with the Holy Father," the cardinal added. "Kilometer after kilometer of excited young adults, youngsters too, running and waving behind the crowds, trying to keep up. It was a tonic."

"They are days to remember," he concluded.

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Church in Boston: Women-Priest Group Not Catholic

The organization calling itself "Roman Catholic Womenpriests" held a conference in Boston over the weekend at a Presbyterian church. They had an ordination ceremony today with three women.

"Roman Catholic Womenpriests is not an entity of the Roman Catholic Church," the archdiocese stated.

"For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has served to carry on the ministry and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church is made up of women and men, equal in rights and diverse in gifts and ministries. Following our devotion to Mary, the Church is committed to, and sustained by the many important contributions of women each and every day," the statement said.

It added: "As members of our religious communities, lay members in leadership roles within the Church, educators, canon lawyers, and as pastoral and social service providers across many other critical areas, women are helping to shape the course of our Church in following the will of God.

"The ordination of men to the priesthood is not merely a matter of practice or discipline within the Catholic Church, but rather, it is part of the unalterable Deposit of Faith handed down by Christ through his apostles."

The archdiocesan statement recalled that "Catholics who attempt to confer a sacred order on a woman, and the women who attempt to receive a sacred order, are by their own actions separating themselves from the Church."

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Benedict XVI's Farewell Address

* * *

Dear Friends,

Before I take my leave, I wish to say to my hosts how much I have enjoyed my visit here and how grateful I am for your hospitality. I thank the Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, for the kindness he has shown to me and to all the participants at World Youth Day. I also thank the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery, for his presence here and for graciously receiving me at Admiralty House at the start of my public engagements. The Federal Government and the State Government of New South Wales, as well as the residents and the business community of Sydney, have been most cooperative in their support of World Youth Day. An event of this kind requires an immense amount of preparation and organization, and I know that I speak on behalf of many thousands of young people when I express my appreciation and gratitude to you all. In characteristic Australian style, you have extended a warm welcome to me and to countless young pilgrims who have flocked here from every corner of the globe. To the host families in Australia and New Zealand who have made room for the young people in their homes, I am especially grateful. You have opened your doors and your hearts to the world's youth, and on their behalf I thank you.

The principal actors on the stage over these last few days, of course, have been the young people themselves. World Youth Day is their day. It is they who have made this a global ecclesial event, a great celebration of youth and a great celebration of what it is to be the Church, the people of God throughout the world, united in faith and love and empowered by the Spirit to bear witness to the risen Christ to the ends of the earth. I thank them for coming, I thank them for their participation, and I pray that they will have a safe journey home. I know that the young people, their families and their sponsors have in many cases made great sacrifices to enable them to travel to Australia. For this the entire Church is grateful.

As I look back over these stirring days, there are many scenes that stand out in my mind. I was deeply moved by my visit to the Mary MacKillop Memorial, and I thank the Sisters of Saint Joseph for the opportunity to pray at the Shrine of their Co-Foundress. The Stations of the Cross in the streets of Sydney were a powerful reminder that Christ loved us "to the end" and shared our sufferings so that we could share his glory. The meeting with the young people at Darlinghurst was a moment of joy and great hope, a sign that Christ can lift us out of the most difficult situations, restoring our dignity and enabling us to look forward to a brighter future. The meeting with ecumenical and interreligious leaders was marked by a spirit of genuine fraternity and a deep desire for greater collaboration in building a more just and peaceful world. And without doubt, the gatherings at Barangaroo and Southern Cross were high-points of my visit. Those experiences of prayer, and our joyful celebration of the Eucharist, were an eloquent testimony to the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, present and active in the hearts of our young people. World Youth Day has shown us that the Church can rejoice in the young

Dear friends, as I depart from Sydney, I ask God to look down lovingly upon this city, this country and all its inhabitants. I pray that many of their number will be inspired by Blessed Mary MacKillop's example of compassion and service. And as I bid you farewell with deep gratitude in my heart, I say once again: May God bless the people of Australia!

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Pope's Address to Youth Day Benefactors

* * *

Your Eminence,
Dear Friends,

As my visit to Australia draws to a close, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped make this World Youth Day a success. This evening, in a particular way, my thanks go to you, who have so generously supported this event both materially and spiritually. Cardinal Pell has alluded to the great sacrifices which you have made in organizing this wonderful day in the life of the Church. I thank you personally, not only for those sacrifices, but even more for the confidence you have shown in our young people and your trust in God's grace at work in their hearts. Let us pray that the investment which so many of you have made in them will bear fruit in their own lives, for the life of Christ's Church and for the future of our world!

In these days, through the work of the organizing committee and the cooperation of so many private individuals, businesses and corporations, and local authorities, young people from throughout the world have been given the opportunity to experience the beauty of this country and the warm hospitality of the Australian people. In return, they have enriched this land by their witness to the love of Christ and the power of his Spirit at work in the Church.

I am sure, dear friends, that your own participation in the preparations for this World Youth Day has given you a particular experience of the Holy Spirit's power. No doubt while planning this great international gathering, and trying to face every possible eventuality, you had your moments of worry and concern, and even fear and trepidation about how things would finally turn out! Now, in retrospect, you can see the abundant harvest which the Spirit has brought forth from your prayers, your perseverance and your hard work. How many good seeds have been sown in these short days!

Dear friends, Saint Paul, who devoted his entire life to the service of the Gospel, reminds us that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (cf. Acts 20:35). Your generosity and sacrifice have been an essential, yet often hidden, ingredient in the success of this World Youth Day. May the spiritual joy, the satisfaction and the fulfilment that we have all experienced in these days, be an unfailing source of blessings in your own lives. May you never doubt the truth of our Lord's promise that, whenever we give our creativity, energy, resources, and our very selves to him, we will gain them back abundantly (cf. Mt 19:29)!

With these sentiments I express once more my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to each of you. I commend you and your families to the loving intercession of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in Jesus her divine Son.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Papal Address to Youth Day Volunteers

* * *

Dear Friends in Christ,

I thank Cardinal Pell for his kind words and I am pleased to have this opportunity to bid farewell to all of you and to say what a wonderful experience this week has been. During these days we have been able to witness at first hand the joy that so many thousands of young people find in their faith, and we have been able to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us. We have had a taste of the warmth and generosity of Australian hospitality, and we have glimpsed something of the glorious scenery of this beautiful continent. It has truly been a week to remember.

None of this would have been possible, though, without a great deal of preparation and sheer hard work during the period leading up to World Youth Day. I want to thank all of you for the generous commitment of time and energy you have made, in order to ensure the smooth running of each of the events we have celebrated together. They have all required careful coordination, involving civil authorities, police and first aid agencies, as well as church personnel and a vast array of volunteers, marshals and stewards. Your efforts have prepared the ground for the Spirit to come down in power, forging bonds of unity and friendship among young people from widely differing backgrounds, and rekindling their love for Jesus Christ and his Church. In the crowds that have assembled here in Sydney we have seen a vivid expression of the unity-in-diversity of the universal Church, a vision in microcosm of the united human family that we long to see. In the power of the Spirit, may these young people make that vision a reality in the world of tomorrow.

I shall have an opportunity at the airport to thank the representatives of the civil authorities. Here I want to express my deep gratitude to all the bishops, priests, men and women religious, chaplains, teachers, lay associations, ecclesial movements, host families, schools and parish communities who have given so much to make World Youth Day a success. I thank particularly Bishop Anthony Fisher and Mr Danny Casey, who have worked so hard to coordinate all the different activities. We read in the Acts of the Apostles that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (20:35) - but I trust that you will nevertheless have received much from those you have served so generously in the course of our celebrations. To all of you, I say a sincere and heartfelt "thank you".

As I set off on my journey back to Rome, I shall treasure the memory of the many grace-filled events we have experienced together: from my first encounter with the young people at Barangaroo, through the meetings at Darlinghurst and Saint Mary's Cathedral, to the Youth Vigil at Southern Cross Precinct and the Final Mass there yesterday. I pray that you too will take many precious memories and spiritual insights away with you, and will return to your homes and families with fresh zeal to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the power of the Spirit, go forth now to renew the face of the earth!

As I bid you a fond farewell, I commend all of you to the loving intercession of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians, I invoke upon you the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit, and I assure you of my continued prayers. God bless the young people of our world and God bless the people of Australia!

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Holy See on Papal Mass With Abuse Victims

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At the end of the proposed meeting with the Holy Father of a representative group of persons who have been abused by members of the clergy

As an expression of his ongoing pastoral concern for those who have been abused by members of the clergy, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today celebrated Mass with a representative group of victims. He listened to their stories and offered them consolation. Assuring them of his spiritual closeness, he promised to continue to pray for them, their families and all victims. Through this paternal gesture, the Holy Father wished to demonstrate again his deep concern for all those who have suffered sexual abuse.

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Pope Prays Closing Mass Will Be New Pentecost

With this prayer, the Pope concluded his homily this Sunday morning local time, at the Mass that drew to a close the 23rd World Youth Day.

The Holy Father spoke to the vast crowd, expected to number around 500,000, about the power of the Holy Spirit. His homily followed the naming of the 24 candidates for confirmation, two from each Australian state and the other 12 from around the world.

The Pontiff got a sense of the size of the crowd when he flew over Randwick Racecourse in a helicopter earlier in the day -- some 225,000 of the congregation slept under the stars Saturday night after a vigil with the Holy Father. Before the Mass, Benedict XVI greeted a part of the crowd from the popemobile.

Under the bright Sydney sun, Benedict XVI told the youth: "May the fire of God's love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ!"

The Holy Father explained to the youth what the power of the Holy Spirit is: "It is the power of God's life! It is the power of the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation and who, in the fullness of time, raised Jesus from the dead. It is the power which points us, and our world, towards the coming of the Kingdom of God."

A new age

Benedict XVI cited the Gospel of Luke read at the Mass, where Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity.

"Here in Australia, [...] all of us have had an unforgettable experience of the Spirit's presence and power in the beauty of nature," the Pope said. "Here too, in this great assembly of young Christians from all over the world, we have had a vivid experience of the Spirit's presence and power in the life of the Church.

"We have seen the Church for what she truly is: the Body of Christ, a living community of love, embracing people of every race, nation and tongue, of every time and place, in the unity born of our faith in the Risen Lord. The power of the Spirit never ceases to fill the Church with life!"

"Yet this power," the Holy Father continued, "the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God's love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age.

"Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God's grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father."

A difference?

With solemnity, the Pontiff then said to the youth, "Let me now ask you a question."

He asked: "What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the 'power' which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?"

"Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished -- not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed," the Bishop of Rome affirmed. "A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships."

"Dear young friends," he urged, "the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity."

The world and the Church need this renewal, Benedict XVI affirmed.

"The Church especially needs the gifts of young people, all young people," he said. "She needs to grow in the power of the Spirit who even now gives joy to your youth and inspires you to serve the Lord with gladness. Open your hearts to that power! I address this plea in a special way to those of you whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Do not be afraid to say 'yes' to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!"

The Pope concluded asking for Mary's prayer: "Through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, may this 23rd World Youth Day be experienced as a new Upper Room, from which all of us, burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit, go forth to proclaim the Risen Christ and to draw every heart to him! Amen."

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Benedict XVI: God's Proposal Brought Mary's Yes

The Pope affirmed this today at the close of the 23rd World Youth Day before reciting the midday Angelus with as many as 500,000 people gathered at Randwick Racecourse.

"In the beautiful prayer that we are about to recite, we reflect on Mary as a young woman, receiving the Lord's summons to dedicate her life to him in a very particular way, a way that would involve the generous gift of herself, her womanhood, her motherhood," he said. "Imagine how she must have felt. She was filled with apprehension, utterly overwhelmed at the prospect that lay before her."

The Holy Father recalled, however, that the angel Gabriel understood Mary's anxiety and sought to reassure her, saying, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

"It was the Spirit who gave her the strength and courage to respond to the Lord's call," the Pontiff said. "It was the Spirit who helped her to understand the great mystery that was to be accomplished through her. It was the Spirit who enfolded her with his love and enabled her to conceive the Son of God in her womb.

"This scene is perhaps the pivotal moment in the history of God's relationship with his people. During the Old Testament, God revealed himself partially, gradually, as we all do in our personal relationships. It took time for the chosen people to develop their relationship with God."

Courting

Benedict XVI compared God's relationship with humanity to the relationship of a couple.

"The covenant with Israel was like a period of courtship, a long engagement," he said. "Then came the definitive moment, the moment of marriage, the establishment of a new and everlasting covenant. As Mary stood before the Lord, she represented the whole of humanity. In the angel's message, it was as if God made a marriage proposal to the human race. And in our name, Mary said yes."

"In fairy tales, the story ends there, and all 'live happily ever after.' In real life it is not so simple," Benedict XVI continued. "For Mary there were many struggles ahead, as she lived out the consequences of the 'yes' that she had given to the Lord. [...] Throughout her trials she remained faithful to her promise, sustained by the Spirit of fortitude. And she was gloriously rewarded."

"Dear young people, we too must remain faithful to the 'yes' that we have given to the Lord's offer of friendship," the Pope concluded. "We know that he will never abandon us. We know that he will always sustain us through the gifts of the Spirit. Mary accepted the Lord's 'proposal' in our name. So let us turn to her and ask her to guide us as we struggle to remain faithful to the life-giving relationship that God has established with each one of us. She is our example and our inspiration, she intercedes for us with her Son, and with a mother's love she shields us from harm."

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Rumors Confirmed: Madrid to Host '11 Youth Day

After the Pope prayed the Angelus on Sunday just after noon local time, Cardinals George Pell of Sydney and Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, gave farewell addresses. And then, the Holy Father announced the location for the 24th World Youth Day.

"The time has come for me to say good-bye -- or rather, to say arrivederci," he said. "I thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2008, here in Sydney, and I look forward to seeing you again in three years' time. World Youth Day 2011 will take place in Madrid, Spain."

The large number of Spanish youth erupted in cheering and waving their national flags.

The Holy Father began to continue, saying, "Until then ..." But as the cheering had not abated, he chuckled. Finally, he began again: "Until then, let us continue to pray for one another, and let us joyfully bear witness to Christ before the world. May God bless you all."

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Cardinal: Youth Day Isn't Catholic Woodstock

Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga affirmed this in the last of the catechesis sessions, held Saturday.

With songs (the cardinal also plays the saxophone) and jokes, the Honduran prelate spoke to the youth about the necessity of witnessing to their faith in the world.

"The Lord urgently calls us to be witnesses of his Gospel," he said.

His listeners came from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Young Spaniards were also in the audience; Benedict XVI announced Sunday that Spain will host the next World Youth Day in 2011.

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga told the young people that World Youth Day "is not a Catholic Woodstock without drugs and alcohol, like some say, but rather a testimony of the Holy Spirit."

He thus urged the youth to use the Sydney event as a springboard helping them to return to their homes and give testimony of their faith in their daily lives. For this, the cardinal said, big things aren't necessary, but rather doing what should be done in each moment, being faithful to Christ. "Let's not put shackles on the Holy Spirit," he added, "so that he can make of us true works of art."

The cardinal also recalled the example of St. John Bosco, who said, "sadness and melancholy -- not under my roof." Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga explained that one who lives with the grace of God live authentic joy, while one who lives in sin, lives with sadness. "Have you noticed how sad the world is? Well, that's our mission, to irradiate joy, because the world lives in sadness and needs joy."

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On God's Marriage Proposal

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Dear Young Friends,

In the beautiful prayer that we are about to recite, we reflect on Mary as a young woman, receiving the Lord's summons to dedicate her life to him in a very particular way, a way that would involve the generous gift of herself, her womanhood, her motherhood. Imagine how she must have felt. She was filled with apprehension, utterly overwhelmed at the prospect that lay before her.

The angel understood her anxiety and immediately sought to reassure her. "Do not be afraid, Mary .... The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Lk 1:30, 35). It was the Spirit who gave her the strength and courage to respond to the Lord's call. It was the Spirit who helped her to understand the great mystery that was to be accomplished through her. It was the Spirit who enfolded her with his love and enabled her to conceive the Son of God in her womb.

This scene is perhaps the pivotal moment in the history of God's relationship with his people. During the Old Testament, God revealed himself partially, gradually, as we all do in our personal relationships. It took time for the chosen people to develop their relationship with God. The Covenant with Israel was like a period of courtship, a long engagement. Then came the definitive moment, the moment of marriage, the establishment of a new and everlasting covenant. As Mary stood before the Lord, she represented the whole of humanity. In the angel's message, it was as if God made a marriage proposal to the human race. And in our name, Mary said yes.

In fairy tales, the story ends there, and all "live happily ever after". In real life it is not so simple. For Mary there were many struggles ahead, as she lived out the consequences of the "yes" that she had given to the Lord. Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. When Jesus was twelve years old, she experienced every parent's worst nightmare when, for three days, the child went missing. And after his public ministry, she suffered the agony of witnessing his crucifixion and death. Throughout her trials she remained faithful to her promise, sustained by the Spirit of fortitude. And she was gloriously rewarded.

Dear young people, we too must remain faithful to the "yes" that we have given to the Lord's offer of friendship. We know that he will never abandon us. We know that he will always sustain us through the gifts of the Spirit. Mary accepted the Lord's "proposal" in our name. So let us turn to her and ask her to guide us as we struggle to remain faithful to the life-giving relationship that God has established with each one of us. She is our example and our inspiration, she intercedes for us with her Son, and with a mother's love she shields us from harm.

[After leading the Angelus, prayed in Latin, there were farewell addresses from Cardinals George Pell of Sydney and Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Then, the Holy Father greeted the youth in five languages. Finally, the Pontiff said:]

The time has come for me to say good-bye - or rather, to say arrivederci! I thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2008, here in Sydney, and I look forward to seeing you again in three years' time. World Youth Day 2011 will take place in Madrid, Spain. Until then, let us continue to pray for one another, and let us joyfully bear witness to Christ before the world. May God bless you all.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Papal Homily at Closing Mass in Sydney

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Dear Friends,

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). We have seen this promise fulfilled! On the day of Pentecost, as we heard in the first reading, the Risen Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, sent the Spirit upon the disciples gathered in the Upper Room. In the power of that Spirit, Peter and the Apostles went forth to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. In every age, and in every language, the Church throughout the world continues to proclaim the marvels of God and to call all nations and peoples to faith, hope and new life in Christ.

In these days I too have come, as the Successor of Saint Peter, to this magnificent land of Australia. I have come to confirm you, my young brothers and sisters, in your faith and to encourage you to open your hearts to the power of Christ's Spirit and the richness of his gifts. I pray that this great assembly, which unites young people "from every nation under heaven" (cf. Acts 2:5), will be a new Upper Room. May the fire of God's love descend to fill your hearts, unite you ever more fully to the Lord and his Church, and send you forth, a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ! "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you". These words of the Risen Lord have a special meaning for those young people who will be confirmed, sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, at today's Mass. But they are also addressed to each of us - to all those who have received the Spirit's gift of reconciliation and new life at Baptism, who have welcomed him into their hearts as their helper and guide at Confirmation, and who daily grow in his gifts of grace through the Holy Eucharist. At each Mass, in fact, the Holy Spirit descends anew, invoked by the solemn prayer of the Church, not only to transform our gifts of bread and wine into the Lord's body and blood, but also to transform our lives, to make us, in his power, "one body, one spirit in Christ".

But what is this "power" of the Holy Spirit? It is the power of God's life! It is the power of the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation and who, in the fullness of time, raised Jesus from the dead. It is the power which points us, and our world, towards the coming of the Kingdom of God. In today's Gospel, Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity (cf. Lk 4:21). He himself, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, came among us to bring us that Spirit. As the source of our new life in Christ, the Holy Spirit is also, in a very real way, the soul of the Church, the love which binds us to the Lord and one another, and the light which opens our eyes to see all around us the wonders of God's grace.

Here in Australia, this "great south land of the Holy Spirit", all of us have had an unforgettable experience of the Spirit's presence and power in the beauty of nature. Our eyes have been opened to see the world around us as it truly is: "charged", as the poet says, "with the grandeur of God", filled with the glory of his creative love. Here too, in this great assembly of young Christians from all over the world, we have had a vivid experience of the Spirit's presence and power in the life of the Church. We have seen the Church for what she truly is: the Body of Christ, a living community of love, embracing people of every race, nation and tongue, of every time and place, in the unity born of our faith in the Risen Lord. The power of the Spirit never ceases to fill the Church with life! Through the grace of the Church's sacraments, that power also flows deep within us, like an underground river which nourishes our spirit and draws us ever nearer to the source of our true life, which is Christ. Saint Ignatius of Antioch, who died a martyr in Rome at the beginning of the second century, has left us a splendid description of the Spirit's power dwelling within us. He spoke of the Spirit as a fountain of living water springing up within his heart and whispering: "Come, come to the Father" (cf. Ad Rom., 6:1-9).

Yet this power, the grace of the Spirit, is not something we can merit or achieve, but only receive as pure gift. God's love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires. That is why prayer is so important: daily prayer, private prayer in the quiet of our hearts and before the Blessed Sacrament, and liturgical prayer in the heart of the Church. Prayer is pure receptivity to God's grace, love in action, communion with the Spirit who dwells within us, leading us, through Jesus, in the Church, to our heavenly Father. In the power of his Spirit, Jesus is always present in our hearts, quietly waiting for us to be still with him, to hear his voice, to abide in his love, and to receive "power from on high", enabling us to be salt and light for our world.

At his Ascension, the Risen Lord told his disciples: "You will be my witnesses ... to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Here, in Australia, let us thank the Lord for the gift of faith, which has come down to us like a treasure passed on from generation to generation in the communion of the Church. Here, in Oceania, let us give thanks in a special way for all those heroic missionaries, dedicated priests and religious, Christian parents and grandparents, teachers and catechists who built up the Church in these lands - witnesses like Blessed Mary MacKillop, Saint Peter Chanel, Blessed Peter To Rot, and so many others! The power of the Spirit, revealed in their lives, is still at work in the good they left behind, in the society which they shaped and which is being handed on to you.

Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? How are you using the gifts you have been given, the "power" which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make? The power of the Holy Spirit does not only enlighten and console us. It also points us to the future, to the coming of God's Kingdom. What a magnificent vision of a humanity redeemed and renewed we see in the new age promised by today's Gospel! Saint Luke tells us that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of all God's promises, the Messiah who fully possesses the Holy Spirit in order to bestow that gift upon all mankind. The outpouring of Christ's Spirit upon humanity is a pledge of hope and deliverance from everything that impoverishes us. It gives the blind new sight; it sets the downtrodden free, and it creates unity in and through diversity (cf. Lk 4:18-19; Is 61:1-2). This power can create a new world: it can "renew the face of the earth" (cf. Ps 104:30)!

Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed. A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships. Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.

The world needs this renewal! In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading: an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair. How many of our contemporaries have built broken and empty cisterns (cf. Jer 2:13) in a desperate search for meaning - the ultimate meaning that only love can give? This is the great and liberating gift which the Gospel brings: it reveals our dignity as men and women created in the image and likeness of God. It reveals humanity's sublime calling, which is to find fulfilment in love. It discloses the truth about man and the truth about life.

The Church also needs this renewal! She needs your faith, your idealism and your generosity, so that she can always be young in the Spirit (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4)! In today's second reading, the Apostle Paul reminds us that each and every Christian has received a gift meant for building up the Body of Christ. The Church especially needs the gifts of young people, all young people. She needs to grow in the power of the Spirit who even now gives joy to your youth and inspires you to serve the Lord with gladness. Open your hearts to that power! I address this plea in a special way to those of you whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and the consecrated life. Do not be afraid to say "yes" to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!

In a few moments, we will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. The Holy Spirit will descend upon the confirmands; they will be "sealed" with the gift of the Spirit and sent forth to be Christ's witnesses. What does it mean to receive the "seal" of the Holy Spirit? It means being indelibly marked, inalterably changed, a new creation. For those who have received this gift, nothing can ever be the same! Being "baptized" in the one Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 12:13) means being set on fire with the love of God. Being "given to drink" of the Spirit means being refreshed by the beauty of the Lord's plan for us and for the world, and becoming in turn a source of spiritual refreshment for others. Being "sealed with the Spirit" means not being afraid to stand up for Christ, letting the truth of the Gospel permeate the way we see, think and act, as we work for the triumph of the civilization of love.

As we pray for the confirmands, let us ask that the power of the Holy Spirit will revive the grace of our own Confirmation. May he pour out his gifts in abundance on all present, on this city of Sydney, on this land of Australia and on all its people! May each of us be renewed in the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence, the spirit of wonder and awe in God's presence!

Through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, may this Twenty-third World Youth Day be experienced as a new Upper Room, from which all of us, burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit, go forth to proclaim the Risen Christ and to draw every heart to him! Amen.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Pope Tells Pilgrims Unity Is Key to Changing World

By Anthony Barich

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A sea of candles covered Randwick Racecourse as over 235,000 World Youth Day pilgrims listened to Benedict XVI's message on the importance of unity and reconciliation.

Pilgrims began arriving before noon to Randwick on Saturday in Sydney, which has capacity for 300,000 people. After only a few hours, barely a blade of grass could be seen as pilgrims stood, knelt, sat and lay on their sleeping bags, blankets and pillows.

As the pilgrims waited for the Pope's scheduled 7 p.m. arrival they contemplated his daily World Youth Day text message: “Dear friend, u must be holy & u must be missionary: never separate holiness from mission – BXVI.”

The Holy Father arrived to the venue a little ahead of the appointed hour, despite making a late addition to his schedule to visit St. Joseph’s Home in Randwick, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Pope met with Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy, the retired archbishop of Sydney, and 92-year-old Rosemarie Goldie, the Sydney-born former undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The prayer vigil began with the racecourse in darkness, gradually illuminated by torches borne by dancers on the podium, representing the opening to the Holy Spirit.

The World Youth Day cross and flag were positioned on the stage in anticipation of Benedict XVI's arrival, who entered accompanied by 12 pilgrims while the assembly sang the hymn "Our Lady of the Southern Cross."

An indigenous woman lit the candles carried by the 12 pilgrims, who in their turn lit those of the assembly and of the bishops. Seven young people then invoked the Holy Spirit through the intercession of the patrons of World Youth Day.

Pilgrims too far from the stage viewed proceedings on the 35 video screens around the Southern Cross Precinct that includes Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park. The latter was not used for the vigil, but will be filled for Sunday's closing Mass.

Witness

Benedict XVI spoke to the youth on how to become witnesses, and spoke of the importance of such a task as “you are already well aware that our Christian witness is offered to a world which in many ways is fragile.”

Unity, the Pope said, is the key to changing the world.

“Unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another and only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek,” he said.

The Pontiff, who has previously warned about the “dictatorship of relativism,” warned the pilgrims that it will hinder their capacity for good, achieved through unity.

“By its nature, relativism fails to see the whole picture. It ignores the very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony,” he said. “Unity is the essence of the Church; it is a gift we must recognize and cherish.”

Benedict XVI encouraged the young people to nurture unity and “resist any temptation to walk away, for it is precisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision of our faith -- solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight – that we can offer our world.”

He asked, “Is it not because of your faith that friends in difficulty or seeking meaning in their lives have turned to you?”

Having concluded his remarks, 24 catechumens were presented to the Holy Father, who will receive the sacrament of confirmation from the Pope at the closing Mass on Sunday.

Once the Pope departed, the pilgrims recited an international rosary.

Adoration tents were constantly full all night as the youth continued to keep the vigil for the closing Mass with the Holy Father. Four tents were set up around Randwick, run by the Missionaries of Charity, the Emmanuel Community, the Schonstatt movement and the apostolic movement Youth 2000.

Under the stars

Those not praying or receiving the sacrament of reconciliation huddled in their blankets and foldout tents before sleeping out in anticipation of the final youth day event.

Despite temperatures dipping to 51 degrees Fahrenheit, the pilgrims weren't complaining.

Rellie Irung, 20, from Papua New Guinea, told ZENIT she was so eager to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that the cold didn’t bother her.

“We don’t mind being cold, because we’re happy to receive the Holy Spirit,” Irung said. “It’s very special for us to come together with so many from around the world to share our faith; but most importantly, we are here to meet the Pope and receive his message, so we can be witnesses when we go back home to our own country.”

23-year-old Sydneysiders Audrey Echevarria, Ellen McFarlane and Daniel Little said they took spent their time listening to stories of struggle from young Catholics from around the globe.

“The fact that so many people have sacrificed so much and traveled so far has really amazed us,” McFarlane said. “It’s important for young Australians that we have a sense of unity in your faith.”

“We’ve been taught it all our lives, but now we have a clearer idea of what the universal nature of the Catholic faith is, and now it has solidified our own faith,” said Little.

“There is a fair amount of hostility to Christianity in Australia, especially in Sydney, but knowing that not everyone dislikes Catholicism gives us courage to be able to speak about our faith in public,” Echevarria said.

“Being a Catholic takes a lot of courage," she added, "it means you need to make a choice yourself about how you want to live your life, and this event helps us do that.”

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Pope: Holy Spirit Is Silent Guide Toward Unity

The Pope said this at the World Youth Day vigil Saturday night at the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Giovanni Maria Vian, director de L'Osservatore Romano, said the discourse of the Holy Father was "one of the most beautiful texts of his pontificate."

The Pontiff said the words of Christ taken as the theme of World Youth Day 2008 -- "You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You and You Will be My Witnesses” -- "were the very last words which Jesus spoke before his Ascension into heaven."

"How the Apostles felt upon hearing them, we can only imagine," said Benedict XVI. "But we do know that their deep love for Jesus, and their trust in his word, prompted them to gather and to wait; to wait not aimlessly, but together, united in prayer, with the women and Mary in the Upper Room.

"Tonight, we do the same. Gathered before our much-traveled cross and the icon of Mary, and under the magnificent constellation of the Southern Cross, we pray."

The Pontiff said that he was praying for the youth of the world: "Accept into your hearts and minds the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit! Recognize and believe in the power of the Spirit in your lives!"

Silent and unseen

The Pope said it's not easy to "understand the person of the Holy Spirit and his vivifying presence in our lives."

"Indeed," he said, "the variety of images found in Scripture referring to the Spirit -- wind, fire, breath -- indicate our struggle to articulate an understanding of him.

"Yet we do know that it is the Holy Spirit who, though silent and unseen, gives direction and definition to our witness to Jesus Christ."

The world, Benedict XVI said, is "in many ways is fragile." He said it is "weakened by wounds which run particularly deep when social relations break apart, or when the human spirit is all but crushed through the exploitation and abuse of persons."

He continued: "Society today is being fragmented by a way of thinking that is inherently shortsighted, because it disregards the full horizon of truth -- the truth about God and about us.

"By its nature, relativism fails to see the whole picture. It ignores the very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony."

The answer to this fragmentation is unity, but the Pope reminded the pilgrims that "unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. [...] Only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek."

Temptation

"It is the Spirit, in fact, who guides the Church in the way of all truth and unifies her in communion and in the works of ministry," the Holy Father said. "Unfortunately, the temptation to 'go it alone' persists.

"Some today portray their local community as somehow separate from the so-called institutional Church, by speaking of the former as flexible and open to the Spirit and the latter as rigid and devoid of the Spirit."

"Be watchful! Listen," he urged. "Through the dissonance and division of our world, can you hear the concordant voice of humanity? From the forlorn child in a Darfur camp, or a troubled teenager, or an anxious parent in any suburb, or perhaps even now from the depth of your own heart, there emerges the same human cry for recognition, for belonging, for unity."

The Pontiff reminded the young pilgrims that it is the Holy Spirit "who satisfies that essential human yearning to be one, to be immersed in communion, to be built up, to be led to truth."

"This is the Spirit’s role," he continued, "to bring Christ’s work to fulfillment. Enriched with the Spirit’s gifts, you will have the power to move beyond the piecemeal, the hollow utopia, the fleeting, to offer the consistency and certainty of Christian witness!"

Gratitude

"Tonight, gathered under the beauty of the night sky, our hearts and minds are filled with gratitude to God for the great gift of our Trinitarian faith," said Benedict XVI. "We recall our parents and grandparents who walked alongside us when we, as children, were taking our first steps in our pilgrim journey of faith.

"Now many years later, you have gathered as young adults with the Successor of Peter. I am filled with deep joy to be with you. Let us invoke the Holy Spirit: He is the artisan of God’s works. Let his gifts shape you!"

He urged the young pilgrims to "exercise the Spirit’s gifts amidst the ups and downs of your daily life. Let your faith mature through your studies, work, sport, music and art.

"Let it be sustained by prayer and nurtured by the sacraments, and thus be a source of inspiration and help to those around you," continued the Pope. "In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success.

"To be truly alive is to be transformed from within, open to the energy of God’s love. In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform your families, communities and nations. Set free the gifts! Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of greatness!"

--- --- ---

On the Net:

Full text of the Pope's address: www.zenit.org/article-23277?l=english

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Pontiff Uses Augustine to Explain Holy Spirit

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Sexual Abuse Victims Get Papal Apology

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Toward Never Another Sexual Abuse Crisis

By Catherine Smibert

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI apologized on Saturday to the victims of sexual abuse in Australia, a gesture the Pope also said must be supported by measures to prevent the crisis from happening again.

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Pope's Address at Youth Day Vigil

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 19, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI gave at the World Youth Day vigil Saturday night at the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

* * *

Dear Young People,

Once again this evening we have heard Christ’s great promise – "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you". And we have heard his summons – "be my witnesses throughout the world" – (Acts 1:8). These were the very last words which Jesus spoke before his Ascension into heaven. How the Apostles felt upon hearing them, we can only imagine. But we do know that their deep love for Jesus, and their trust in his word, prompted them to gather and to wait; to wait not aimlessly, but together, united in prayer, with the women and Mary in the Upper Room (cf. Acts 1:14). Tonight, we do the same. Gathered before our much-travelled Cross and the icon of Mary, and under the magnificent constellation of the Southern Cross, we pray. Tonight, I am praying for you and for young people throughout the world. Be inspired by the example of your Patrons! Accept into your hearts and minds the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit! Recognize and believe in the power of the Spirit in your lives!

The other day we talked of the unity and harmony of God’s creation and our place within it. We recalled how in the great gift of baptism we, who are made in God’s image and likeness, have been reborn, we have become God’s adopted children, a new creation. And so it is as children of Christ’s light – symbolized by the lit candles you now hold – that we bear witness in our world to the radiance no darkness can overcome (cf. Jn 1:5).

Tonight we focus our attention on how to become witnesses. We need to understand the person of the Holy Spirit and his vivifying presence in our lives. This is not easy to comprehend. Indeed the variety of images found in scripture referring to the Spirit – wind, fire, breath – indicate our struggle to articulate an understanding of him. Yet we do know that it is the Holy Spirit who, though silent and unseen, gives direction and definition to our witness to Jesus Christ.

You are already well aware that our Christian witness is offered to a world which in many ways is fragile. The unity of God’s creation is weakened by wounds which run particularly deep when social relations break apart, or when the human spirit is all but crushed through the exploitation and abuse of persons. Indeed, society today is being fragmented by a way of thinking that is inherently short-sighted, because it disregards the full horizon of truth– the truth about God and about us. By its nature, relativism fails to see the whole picture. It ignores the very principles which enable us to live and flourish in unity, order and harmony.

What is our response, as Christian witnesses, to a divided and fragmented world? How can we offer the hope of peace, healing and harmony to those "stations" of conflict, suffering, and tension through which you have chosen to march with this World Youth Day Cross? Unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another (cf. Gen 2:24) and only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek. Yet, in the face of imperfections and disappointments – both individual and institutional – we are sometimes tempted to construct artificially a "perfect" community. That temptation is not new. The history of the Church includes many examples of attempts to bypass or override human weaknesses or failures in order to create a perfect unity, a spiritual utopia.

Such attempts to construct unity in fact undermine it! To separate the Holy Spirit from Christ present in the Church’s institutional structure would compromise the unity of the Christian community, which is precisely the Spirit’s gift! It would betray the nature of the Church as the living temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 3:16). It is the Spirit, in fact, who guides the Church in the way of all truth and unifies her in communion and in the works of ministry (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4). Unfortunately the temptation to "go it alone" persists. Some today portray their local community as somehow separate from the so-called institutional Church, by speaking of the former as flexible and open to the Spirit and the latter as rigid and devoid of the Spirit.

Unity is of the essence of the Church (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 813); it is a gift we must recognize and cherish. Tonight, let us pray for the resolve to nurture unity: contribute to it! resist any temptation to walk away! For it is precisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision, of our faith – solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight – that we can offer our world. Dear young people, is it not because of your faith that friends in difficulty or seeking meaning in their lives have turned to you? Be watchful! Listen! Through the dissonance and division of our world, can you hear the concordant voice of humanity? From the forlorn child in a Darfur camp, or a troubled teenager, or an anxious parent in any suburb, or perhaps even now from the depth of your own heart, there emerges the same human cry for recognition, for belonging, for unity. Who satisfies that essential human yearning to be one, to be immersed in communion, to be built up, to be led to truth? The Holy Spirit! This is the Spirit’s role: to bring Christ’s work to fulfilment. Enriched with the Spirit’s gifts, you will have the power to move beyond the piecemeal, the hollow utopia, the fleeting, to offer the consistency and certainty of Christian witness!

Friends, when reciting the Creed we state: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life". The "Creator Spirit" is the power of God giving life to all creation and the source of new and abundant life in Christ. The Spirit sustains the Church in union with the Lord and in fidelity to the apostolic Tradition. He inspired the Sacred Scriptures and he guides God’s People into the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 16:13) In all these ways the Spirit is the "giver of life", leading us into the very heart of God. So, the more we allow the Spirit to direct us, the more perfect will be our configuration to Christ and the deeper our immersion in the life of the Triune God.

This sharing in God’s nature (cf. 2 Pet 1:4) occurs in the unfolding of the everyday moments of our lives where he is always present (cf. Bar 3:38). There are times, however, when we might be tempted to seek a certain fulfilment apart from God. Jesus himself asked the Twelve: "do you also wish to go away?" Such drifting away perhaps offers the illusion of freedom. But where does it lead? To whom would we go? For in our hearts we know that it is the Lord who has "the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:67-68). To turn away from him is only a futile attempt to escape from ourselves (cf. Saint Augustine, Confessions VIII, 7). God is with us in the reality of life, not the fantasy! It is embrace, not escape, that we seek! So the Holy Spirit gently but surely steers us back to what is real, what is lasting, what is true. It is the Spirit who leads us back into the communion of the Blessed Trinity!

The Holy Spirit has been in some ways the neglected person of the Blessed Trinity. A clear understanding of the Spirit almost seems beyond our reach. Yet, when I was a small boy, my parents, like yours, taught me the Sign of the Cross. So, I soon came to realize that there is one God in three Persons, and that the Trinity is the centre of our Christian faith and life. While I grew up to have some understanding of God the Father and the Son – the names already conveyed much – my understanding of the third person of the Trinity remained incomplete. So, as a young priest teaching theology, I decided to study the outstanding witnesses to the Spirit in the Church’s history. It was on this journey that I found myself reading, among others, the great Saint Augustine.

Augustine’s understanding of the Holy Spirit evolved gradually; it was a struggle. As a young man he had followed Manichaeism - one of those attempts I mentioned earlier, to create a spiritual utopia by radically separating the things of the spirit from the things of the flesh. Hence he was at first suspicious of the Christian teaching that God had become man. Yet his experience of the love of God present in the Church led him to investigate its source in the life of the Triune God. This led him to three particular insights about the Holy Spirit as the bond of unity within the Blessed Trinity: unity as communion, unity as abiding love, and unity as giving and gift. These three insights are not just theoretical. They help explain how the Spirit works. In a world where both individuals and communities often suffer from an absence of unity or cohesion, these insights help us remain attuned to the Spirit and to extend and clarify the scope of our witness.

So, with Augustine’s help, let us illustrate something of the Holy Spirit’s work. He noted that the two words "Holy" and "Spirit" refer to what is divine about God; in other words what is shared by the Father and the Son – their communion. So, if the distinguishing characteristic of the Holy Spirit is to be what is shared by the Father and the Son, Augustine concluded that the Spirit’s particular quality is unity. It is a unity of lived communion: a unity of persons in a relationship of constant giving, the Father and the Son giving themselves to each other. We begin to glimpse, I think, how illuminating is this understanding of the Holy Spirit as unity, as communion. True unity could never be founded upon relationships which deny the equal dignity of other persons. Nor is unity simply the sum total of the groups through which we sometimes attempt to "define" ourselves. In fact, only in the life of communion is unity sustained and human identity fulfilled: we recognize the common need for God, we respond to the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit, and we give ourselves to one another in service.

Augustine’s second insight – the Holy Spirit as abiding love – comes from his study of the First Letter of Saint John. John tells us that "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16). Augustine suggests that while these words refer to the Trinity as a whole they express a particular characteristic of the Holy Spirit. Reflecting on the lasting nature of love - "whoever abides in love remains in God and God in him" (ibid.) - he wondered: is it love or the Holy Spirit which grants the abiding? This is the conclusion he reaches: "The Holy Spirit makes us remain in God and God in us; yet it is love that effects this. The Spirit therefore is God as love!" (De Trinitate, 15.17.31). It is a beautiful explanation: God shares himself as love in the Holy Spirit. What further understanding might we gain from this insight? Love is the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit! Ideas or voices which lack love – even if they seem sophisticated or knowledgeable – cannot be "of the Spirit". Furthermore, love has a particular trait: far from being indulgent or fickle, it has a task or purpose to fulfil: to abide. By its nature love is enduring. Again, dear friends, we catch a further glimpse of how much the Holy Spirit offers our world: love which dispels uncertainty; love which overcomes the fear of betrayal; love which carries eternity within; the true love which draws us into a unity that abides!

The third insight – the Holy Spirit as gift – Augustine derived from meditating on a Gospel passage we all know and love: Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. Here Jesus reveals himself as the giver of the living water (cf. Jn 4:10) which later is explained as the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 7:39; 1 Cor 12:13). The Spirit is "God’s gift" (Jn 4:10) - the internal spring (cf. Jn 4:14), who truly satisfies our deepest thirst and leads us to the Father. From this observation Augustine concludes that God sharing himself with us as gift is the Holy Spirit (cf. De Trinitate, 15, 18, 32). Friends, again we catch a glimpse of the Trinity at work: the Holy Spirit is God eternally giving himself; like a never-ending spring he pours forth nothing less than himself. In view of this ceaseless gift, we come to see the limitations of all that perishes, the folly of the consumerist mindset. We begin to understand why the quest for novelty leaves us unsatisfied and wanting. Are we not looking for an eternal gift? The spring that will never run dry? With the Samaritan woman, let us exclaim: give me this water that I may thirst no more! (cf. Jn 4:15).

Dear young people, we have seen that it is the Holy Spirit who brings about the wonderful communion of believers in Jesus Christ. True to his nature as giver and gift alike, he is even now working through you. Inspired by the insights of Saint Augustine: let unifying love be your measure; abiding love your challenge; self-giving love your mission!

Tomorrow, that same gift of the Spirit will be solemnly conferred upon our confirmation candidates. I shall pray: "give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence … and fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe". These gifts of the Spirit – each of which, as Saint Francis de Sales reminds us, is a way to participate in the one love of God – are neither prizes nor rewards. They are freely given (cf. 1 Cor 12:11). And they require only one response on the part of the receiver: I accept! Here we sense something of the deep mystery of being Christian. What constitutes our faith is not primarily what we do but what we receive. After all, many generous people who are not Christian may well achieve far more than we do. Friends, do you accept being drawn into God’s Trinitarian life? Do you accept being drawn into his communion of love?

The Spirit’s gifts working within us give direction and definition to our witness. Directed to unity, the gifts of the Spirit bind us more closely to the whole Body of Christ (cf. Lumen Gentium, 11), equipping us better to build up the Church in order to serve the world (cf. Eph 4:13). They call us to active and joyful participation in the life of the Church: in parishes and ecclesial movements, in religious education classes, in university chaplaincies and other catholic organizations. Yes, the Church must grow in unity, must be strengthened in holiness, must be rejuvenated, must be constantly renewed (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4). But according to whose standard? The Holy Spirit’s! Turn to him, dear young people, and you will find the true meaning of renewal.

Tonight, gathered under the beauty of the night sky, our hearts and minds are filled with gratitude to God for the great gift of our Trinitarian faith. We recall our parents and grandparents who walked alongside us when we, as children, were taking our first steps in our pilgrim journey of faith. Now many years later, you have gathered as young adults with the Successor of Peter. I am filled with deep joy to be with you. Let us invoke the Holy Spirit: he is the artisan of God’s works (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 741). Let his gifts shape you! Just as the Church travels the same journey with all humanity, so too you are called to exercise the Spirit’s gifts amidst the ups and downs of your daily life. Let your faith mature through your studies, work, sport, music and art. Let it be sustained by prayer and nurtured by the sacraments, and thus be a source of inspiration and help to those around you. In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success. To be truly alive is to be transformed from within, open to the energy of God’s love. In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform your families, communities and nations. Set free the gifts! Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of greatness!

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More Than 250,000 Watch Procession

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- More than 250,000 spectators looked on as Christ's passion and death was re-enacted in the streets of Sydney as part of the World Youth Day celebrations.

The Stations of the Cross is a major highlight of each international World Youth Day, under way in Sydney through Sunday, and Friday's re-enactment Down Under was no exception.

Organizers estimate a global viewing audience upward of 500 million tuned in to see the live broadcast.

Although the traditional 14 stations begin with Jesus being condemned to death and conclude with his body being laid in the tomb, the 13 stations of Sydney's reenactment began with the Last Supper and ended with Christ being taken down from the cross.

Benedict XVI led the people in prayer for the first station, which included Christ's institution of the Eucharist, on the steps of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's central business district.

Emotion

Anthony Gordon, 34, who played the part of the Apostle Bartholomew, admitted to ZENIT he struggled to contain his emotion when the Pope came out with Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney, and Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

"When [the Pontiff] came out, you could feel the warmth and excitement from the crowd. You had this compulsion to smile and to dissipate in the rapturous feelings," the actor said.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of many onlookers for this performance of epic proportions, made more so by the backdrop of an intense Australian sunset.

29-year-old Mario Gabrael, who played one of the Roman guards, admitted, "It was difficult to concentrate on our parts at times because of the emotion associated with it."

After watching the first station, Benedict XVI descended into the crypt to watch the remainder of the event on television.

Some 100 actors reenacted the stations at Sydney's key landmarks, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Opera House, the Domain, Darling Harbor and Barangaroo.

Given the distances and roadblocks between stations, the youth could not physically follow the event from station to station. Large-screen televisions were installed at all venues so the crowds could follow the entire procession.

Some of the venues, such as the Sydney Opera House and Barangaroo featured multiple stations.

Extra station

From St. Mary's Cathedral the procession traveled to the Domain for the second station, which portrayed the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The troupe passed Sydney Hospital, where "Jesus" made an extra stop to acknowledge the ill patients watching from above.

The seventh station at Darling Harbor was performed on a floating pontoon boat. Aboriginal man Craig Duncan, wearing a kangaroo skin and traditional body paint, portrayed Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry his cross.

Catherine Naticchia played Susanna in the eighth station -- "Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem" -- one of the six traditional stations included in the youth day event.

Naticchia reflected that her role "to bear witness to the deep compassion" of the women of Jerusalem "was really important."

"As women we can truly empathize," she added, "and present that emotion while many of the men at the time weren't sure how to respond."

The last five stations took place at Barangaroo's north stage.

Mary

The crowds watched as Jesus was nailed to the cross, forgave the good thief, and then entrusted his mother Mary to St. John, the disciple he loved, with the words of scripture, "Woman, this is your son."

He then told John, "This is your mother."

The three-hour event culminated with the crucifixion and the body of Jesus being taken down from the cross, silhouetted against a darkening waterfront at Barangaroo.

The entire performance was directed by Father Franco Cavarra, who has directed operas internationally and around Australia, including at the Sydney Opera House.

He is also a founding member of the longstanding Melbourne International Arts Festival.

The choir of St. Mary's Cathedral provided the background music for the first station, singing Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus," while the World Youth Day 2008 Ukrainian choir sang during the sixth station -- "Jesus Carries His Cross" -- at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

The texts supporting the World Youth Day 2008 Stations of the Cross were taken from the Jerusalem Bible, as modified in the Australian Catholic Lectionary.

[Anthony Barich and Bridget Spinks contributed to this report]

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Pope Urges Troubled Youth to Choose Life

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Youths Grab a Bite With Benedict XVI

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Concert Opens Hearts to Holy Spirit

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Pope's Address to Disadvantaged Youth

* * *

Dear Young Friends,

I am pleased to be with you at Darlinghurst today, and I warmly greet all those taking part in the “Alive” programme, as well as the staff who run it. I pray that you will all benefit from the assistance offered by the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Social Services Agency, and that the good work being done here will continue long into the future.

The name of the programme you are following prompts us to ask the question: what does it really mean to be “alive”, to live life to the full? This is what all of us want, especially when we are young, and it is what Christ wants for us. In fact, he said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The most basic instinct of all living things is to stay alive, to grow, to flourish, and to pass on the gift of life to others. So it is only natural that we should ask how best to do this.

For the people of the Old Testament, this question was just as urgent as it is for us today. No doubt they listened attentively when Moses said to them: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him – for in this your life consists” (Dt 30:19-20). It was clear what they had to do: they had to turn away from other gods and worship the true God who had revealed himself to Moses – and they had to obey his commandments. You might think that in today’s world, people are unlikely to start worshipping other gods. But sometimes people worship “other gods” without realizing it. False “gods”, whatever name, shape or form we give them, are nearly always associated with the worship of three things: material possessions, possessive love, or power. Let me explain what I mean.

Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay alive. Yet if we are greedy, if we refuse to share what we have with the hungry and the poor, then we make our possessions into a false god. How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can! But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death.

Authentic love is obviously something good. Without it, life would hardly be worth living. It fulfils our deepest need, and when we love, we become most fully ourselves, most fully human. But how easily it can be made into a false god! People often think they are being loving when actually they are being possessive or manipulative. People sometimes treat others as objects to satisfy their own needs rather than as persons to be loved and cherished. How easy it is to be deceived by the many voices in our society that advocate a permissive approach to sexuality, without regard for modesty, self-respect or the moral values that bring quality to human relationships! This is worship of a false god. Instead of bringing life, it brings death.

The power God has given us to shape the world around us is obviously something good. Used properly and responsibly, it enables us to transform people’s lives. Every community needs good leaders. Yet how tempting it can be to grasp at power for its own sake, to seek to dominate others or to exploit the natural environment for selfish purposes! This is to make power into a false god. Instead of bringing life, it brings death.

The cult of material possessions, the cult of possessive love and the cult of power often lead people to attempt to “play God”: to try to seize total control, with no regard for the wisdom or the commandments that God has made known to us. This is the path that leads towards death. By contrast, worship of the one true God means recognizing in him the source of all goodness, entrusting ourselves to him, opening ourselves to the healing power of his grace and obeying his commandments: that is the way to choose life.

A vivid illustration of what it means to turn back from the path of death onto the path of life is found in a Gospel story that I am sure you all know well: the parable of the prodigal son. When that young man left his father’s house at the beginning of the story, he was seeking the illusory pleasures promised by false “gods”. He squandered his inheritance on a life of indulgence, and ended up in abject poverty and misery. When he reached the very lowest point, hungry and abandoned, he realized how foolish he had been to leave his loving father. Humbly, he returned and asked forgiveness. Joyfully his father embraced him and exclaimed: “This son of mine was dead, and has come back to life; he was lost, and is found” (Lk 15:24).

Many of you must have had personal experience of what that young man went through. Perhaps you have made choices that you now regret, choices that led you down a path which, however attractive it appeared at the time, only led you deeper into misery and abandonment. The choice to abuse drugs or alcohol, to engage in criminal activity or self-harm, may have seemed at the time to offer a way out of a difficult or confusing situation. You now know that, instead of bringing life, it brings death. I wish to acknowledge your courage in choosing to turn back onto the path of life, just like the young man in the parable. You have accepted help – from friends or family, from the staff who run the “Alive” programme: from people who care deeply for your well-being and happiness.

Dear friends, I see you as ambassadors of hope to others in similar situations. You can convince them of the need to choose the path of life and shun the path of death, because you speak from experience. All through the Gospels, it was those who had taken wrong turnings who were particularly loved by Jesus, because once they recognized their mistake, they were all the more open to his healing message. Indeed, Jesus was often criticized by self-righteous members of society for spending so much time with such people. “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?”, they asked. He responded: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick … I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners” (cf. Mt 9:11-13). It was those who were willing to rebuild their lives who were most ready to listen to Jesus and become his disciples. You can follow in their footsteps, you too can grow particularly close to Jesus because you have chosen to turn back towards him. You can be sure that, just like the Father in the story of the prodigal son, Jesus welcomes you with open arms. He offers you unconditional love – and it is in loving friendship with him that the fullness of life is to be found.

I mentioned earlier that when we love we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming most fully ourselves, most fully human. Loving is what we are programmed to do, what we were designed for by our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about real love, the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You must love your neighbour as yourself” (cf. Mk 12:30-31). This, if you like, is the programme that is hard-wired into every human person, if only we had the wisdom and generosity to live by it, if only we were ready to sacrifice our own preferences so as to be of service to others, to give our lives for the good of others, and above all for Jesus, who loved us and gave his life for us. That is what human beings are called to do, that is what it means to be truly alive.

Dear young friends, my message to you today is the same one that Moses proposed all those years ago. “Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God”. Let his Spirit guide you onto the path of life, so that you obey his commandments, follow his teachings, leave behind the wrong turnings that lead only to death, and commit yourselves to a lifelong friendship with Jesus Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit, choose life and choose love, and bear witness before the world to the joy that it brings. That is my prayer for each one of you this World Youth Day. May God bless you all.

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SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is weaving together a mini-catechesis with a medium nearly any young person can relate to -- cell phone text messages.

The Friday morning local time message to Youth Day pilgrims was a call to Christian love. "The spirit impels us 4ward 2wards others; the fire of his love makes us missionaries of God's charity. See u tomorrow nite - BXVI," it read.

On Saturday night, there will be a vigil with the Pontiff, followed by an all-night sleep out under the stars leading up to Sunday's closing Mass.

Before the Pope's boat-a-cade reached Sydney Harbor Thursday afternoon local time for his official arrival to World Youth Day, the Holy Father sent his third text message. That one said, "The Holy Spirit is the principal agent of salvation history: let him write your life-history 2 - BXVI."

On Wednesday, after his encounter with typical Australian animals, including a koala bear and a carpet python, the Pontiff sent a text message reading, "The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles & gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI."

Pilgrims received their first text message from the Bishop of Rome on Monday. It said, "Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI."

Youth Day participants can receive the messages by texting the word Pope to a special number. Benedict XVI is expected to send a message each day of the event.

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Pope Says Ecumenism at "Critical Juncture"

The Pope affirmed this in Sydney on Friday morning local time, at an ecumenical meeting with about 50 religious leaders that took place within the context of the 23rd World Youth Day. The youth event is under way through Sunday.

After noting the achievements of ecumenism in Australia and the opportunities provided by this year's Pauline Jubilee, the Holy Father proposed that the ecumenical movement "has reached a critical juncture."

"To move forward, we must continually ask God to renew our minds with the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us through the Scriptures and guides us into all truth," he said. "We must guard against any temptation to view doctrine as divisive and hence an impediment to the seemingly more pressing and immediate task of improving the world in which we live."

The Pope affirmed that the history of the Church demonstrates that "praxis is not only inseparable from, but actually flows out of didache or teaching."

"The more closely we strive for a deeper understanding of the divine mysteries, the more eloquently our works of charity will speak of God's bountiful goodness and love toward all. St. Augustine expressed the nexus between the gift of understanding and the virtue of charity when he wrote that the mind returns to God by love, and that wherever one sees charity, one sees the Trinity."

Truth and love

Benedict XVI affirmed that dialogue between Christian religions advances not only through "an exchange of ideas but by a sharing in mutually enriching gifts."

"An 'idea' aims at truth; a 'gift' expresses love. Both are essential to dialogue," he said. "Opening ourselves to accept spiritual gifts from other Christians quickens our ability to perceive the light of truth which comes from the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Father showed the importance of seeking truth with two biblical images for the Church: "body" and "temple."

"By employing the image of a body, Paul draws attention to the organic unity and diversity that allows the Church to breathe and grow," he explained. "Equally significant, however, is the image of a solid, well-structured temple composed of living stones rising on its sure foundation. Jesus himself brings together in perfect unity these images of 'temple' and 'body.'"

"Every element of the Church's structure is important, yet all of them would falter and crumble without the cornerstone who is Christ," the Pontiff added. "As 'fellow citizens' of the 'household of God,' Christians must work together to ensure that the edifice stands strong so that others will be attracted to enter and discover the abundant treasures of grace within.

"As we promote Christian values, we must not neglect to proclaim their source by giving a common witness to Jesus Christ the Lord. It is he who commissioned the apostles, he whom the prophets preached, and he whom we offer to the world."

The Pope concluded by calling to mind the "prophetic calling" Christians of every age have received.

"Paul speaks of the importance of the prophets in the early Church; we too have received a prophetic calling through our baptism," he said. "I am confident that the Spirit will open our eyes to see the gifts of others, our hearts to receive his power, and our minds to perceive the light of Christ's truth."

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Pontiff Sees Mission for People of Faith

This was one of the messages the Pope gave in his address to interreligious leaders Friday in Sydney. The gathering was held in the context of the 23rd World Youth Day, under way through Sunday.

Religions, the Holy Father said, "teach people that authentic service requires sacrifice and self-discipline, which in turn must be cultivated through self-denial, temperance and a moderate use of the world's goods. In this way, men and women are led to regard the environment as a marvel to be pondered and respected rather than a commodity for mere consumption.

"It is incumbent upon religious people to demonstrate that it is possible to find joy in living simply and modestly, generously sharing one's surplus with those suffering from want."

Benedict XVI affirmed that these values are particularly key in the formation of youth, "so often tempted to view life itself as a commodity."

"They also have an aptitude for self-mastery: Indeed, in sports, the creative arts, and in academic studies, they readily welcome it as a challenge," he noted. "Is it not true that when presented with high ideals, many young people are attracted to asceticism and the practice of moral virtue through self-respect and a concern for others? They delight in contemplating the gift of creation and are intrigued by the mystery of the transcendent."

Pointing to another commonality in religions, Benedict XVI mentioned how they "draw constant attention to the wonder of human existence."

"Men and women are endowed with the ability not only to imagine how things might be better, but to invest their energies to make them better," he said. "We are conscious of our unique relationship to the natural realm. If, then, we believe that we are not subject to the laws of the material universe in the same way as the rest of creation, should we not make goodness, compassion, freedom, solidarity, and respect for every individual an essential part of our vision for a more humane future?"

Another contribution of religion is "reminding us of human finitude and weakness," he added.

Christian vision

Benedict XVI affirmed that the Church shares such observations with other religions. Then he focused on the particular vision of Christianity.

"Motivated by charity, [the Church] approaches dialogue believing that the true source of freedom is found in the person of Jesus of Nazareth," he said. "Christians believe it is he who fully discloses the human potential for virtue and goodness, and he who liberates us from sin and darkness. The universality of human experience, which transcends all geographical boundaries and cultural limitations, makes it possible for followers of religions to engage in dialogue so as to grapple with the mystery of life's joys and sufferings.

"In this regard, the Church eagerly seeks opportunities to listen to the spiritual experience of other religions. We could say that all religions aim to penetrate the profound meaning of human existence by linking it to an origin or principle outside itself. Religions offer an attempt to understand the cosmos as coming from and returning to this origin or principle. Christians believe that God has revealed this origin and principle in Jesus, whom the Bible refers to as the 'Alpha and Omega.'"

The Pope concluded affirming that he is in Australia as an "ambassador of peace."

"Our quest for peace goes hand in hand with our search for meaning, for it is in discovering the truth that we find the sure road to peace," he said. "Our effort to bring about reconciliation between peoples springs from, and is directed to, that truth which gives purpose to life. Religion offers peace, but more importantly, it arouses within the human spirit a thirst for truth and a hunger for virtue. May we encourage everyone -- especially the young -- to marvel at the beauty of life, to seek its ultimate meaning, and to strive to realize its sublime potential."

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Flu Strikes Sydney Pilgrims

According to an update Thursday afternoon local time from the New South Wales health department, 87 pilgrims have the flu or flu-like symptoms. And a viral infection has several more youth suffering from gastroenteritis.

Youth Day pilgrims were given several health tips before leaving their homelands. A New South Wales government site reminded pilgrims that Sydney's winter temperatures range from 8ºC (approximately 46ºF) to 16.9ºC (approximately 62ºF). The site encouraged pilgrims to bring appropriate clothing and supplies, especially if they would participate in the sleep-out for the Saturday night vigil.

There are more than 125,000 international pilgrims in Sydney for World Youth Day, so the percentage of pilgrims affected by the flu or gastroenteritis is quite low. Public health officials are attending to the cases.

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Who Is the Holy Spirit, Bishop Asks

Bishop Michele Pennisi of Piazza Armerina spoke with Italian youth about who the Holy Spirit is at the Wednesday catechesis session of World Youth Day.

"For this question [who is the Holy Spirit] to be interesting to us, we must ask ourselves another question," the bishop suggested: "What does the Holy Spirit have to do with my life, with my desire to be happy, to be loved and to love?"

With this, the prelate explained the necessity of the Holy Spirit in Christian life, saying it can be difficult to talk about him if a profound experience of God is lacking.

Unfortunately, thousands of baptized do not experience the action of the Spirit and have never invoked him, Bishop Pennisi lamented. "They do not enjoy fully the effects of Pentecost, because they have not established a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and live an insipid and resigned Christian life."

If, indeed, "it is easier to see a friend in Jesus, it is rather more arduous to approach the Holy Spirit, a mysterious gift, seemingly impalpable, [...] who refers directly to another immense mystery: the Trinity," the bishop said.

Nevertheless, the Italian prelate affirmed, it is the Holy Spirit's work to "render Christ continually present in men's lives."

Hence, to approach him means "to enter in the relationship between the Father and the Son and to allow their way of relating to each another give greater meaning to our lives and to the relationships they contain, with ourselves, with brothers and with creation."

And knowing the Spirit is not enough, Bishop Pennisi continued. He must "be received as guide of our souls, as the 'interior Teacher.' [...] The Holy Spirit is the great, unique, immense gift, a free gift of the Father that, through the Church, refracts in so many gifts that are the charisms, like light that, depending on the bodies on which it falls, triggers different colors. The one gift is divided in so many gifts to rebuild unity in the Church, for which all the gifts are given.

"We wouldn't be able to do anything if we didn't have the Holy Spirit. A person without the presence of the Holy Spirit is like a machine without gas."

Teacher

Meanwhile, Bishop Giuseppe Betori, secretary of the Italian episcopal conference, spoke during his catechesis of the Holy Spirit as the trustworthy teacher.

The prelate also noted the difficulty in knowing the Holy Spirit, lamenting that "too great, in fact, is the distance that separates the Spirit, as divine reality, from the different ideas of 'spirit' spread in today's culture."

To understand who the Holy Spirit is in us, "we must follow the way that is revealed to us in the very person of Jesus, in his earthly undertakings, and as the Risen One," the bishop added. "If to believe is to have access to God and to his mystery, then our path will cross not only with Jesus, the revealer of the Father, but also with the Spirit, who allows us to enter the fullness of truth that Jesus has revealed to us."

"It is the Spirit of Jesus that renders us capable of experiencing love; and the example of the saints, beginning with young saints, tells us that this is possible, if we allow ourselves to be molded by him," he noted.

Bishop Betori encouraged reading sacred Scripture to discover the voice of the Spirit.

One must "frequent the pages of the Gospel, dedicate oneself assiduously to 'lectio divina' and to concrete forms of listening to the Spirit to construct a Christian personality inspired and reinforced by him," because the Spirit "is not only light for our life but also strength that supports us on our way," he said.

And Bishop Betori affirmed: "We are in need of teachers to learn to talk, to live and to love: of this supreme Teacher that is the Spirit we can be confident, because he knows us better than we know ourselves, because he does not seek us to subject us but to enrich us with himself, because only he can introduce us into the mystery of love of God, which takes shape in the most Holy Trinity."

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Tells Pilgrims: Christ Offers Everything

By Anthony Barich and Catherine Smibert

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Two days of waiting for Benedict XVI to officially arrive at World Youth Day seemed like an eternity for young pilgrims across Sydney.

This only led to a build up of excitement, which brimmed over as the Holy Father disembarked at Barangaroo for the welcoming ceremony with the youth day pilgrims on Thursday afternoon local time.

The first glimpse of the flotilla of 13 vessels dubbed the papal "boat-a-cade" in the distance set off the chants -- "Ben-e-det-to" and "Viva il Papa" -- from approximately 500,000 youth and locals lining the shores and streets of Sydney.

Benedict XVI boarded at Rose Bay, East Sydney, where he was welcomed by aboriginal representatives, and traveled on the "Sydney 2000" Captain Cook cruise liner around the bays of the city to then arrive at Barangaroo.

After the Holy Father passed through an indigenous guard of honor on the boat, rapturous cheers emanated from all sections of the 22-hectare disused shipping port in East Darling Harbor.

Benedict XVI could not keep the smile from his face, even throughout his lengthy welcoming speech in which he reminded the crowd, and all those watching his arrival live on huge screens around the city, that whatever their weaknesses, they can build a kingdom of love when empowered by the Holy Spirit.

"In many ways the Apostles were ordinary," the Pope said. "None could claim to be the perfect disciple. They failed to recognize Christ, felt ashamed of their own ambition and had even denied him.

"Yet, when empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were transfixed by the truth of Christ's Gospel and inspired to proclaim it fearlessly."

Greatest story

He likened the pioneering religious and priests who came to Australia's shores -- and to other parts of the Pacific from Ireland, France, Britain, Belgium and elsewhere in Europe -- to the Apostles who, in obedience to Christ's command, set forth bearing witness to "the greatest story ever."

The Pontiff called the youth to look to the patrons of World Youth Day 2008 for inspiration, including Australian Blessed Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and Blessed Peter To Rot, a martyr from what is now known as Papua New Guinea.

Benedict XVI warned against relativism, and said that there is "something sinister" which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth, fuelled by the notion that there are no absolute truths to guide their life.

He said that experiences detached from any consideration of what is good or true can lead not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, a lowering of standards, a loss of self-respect and "even to despair."

The Pope said the answer to and ultimate freedom from life's problems lies in Christ, and his Church.

"Christ offers more," the Holy Father exclaimed. "Indeed, he offers everything. Only he who is the Truth can be the Way and hence also the Life. Thus the 'Way' which the Apostles brought to the ends of the earth is life in Christ.

"This is the life of the Church; and the entrance to this life, to the Christian way, is baptism."

Secularism

Benedict XVI also addressed the problem he identified shortly after he announced that Australia would host the 2008 World Youth Day -- the increasingly secular nature of Australian society.

Though secularism often presents itself as neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone, the Pope warned that it also imposes a worldview.

"If God is irrelevant in public life, then society will be shaped with little or no reference to the Creator," he said.

The Pontiff said that concern for nonviolence, sustainable development, justice, peace and care for the environment, while of "vital importance," cannot be disassociated from a "profound reflection upon the innate dignity of every human life from conception to natural deat.h"

He said this is a dignity that is conferred by God himself and thus inviolable.

He urged the thousands of young people to bring the message to the world that freedom is found in truth, and that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.

New mission

Michael Dooley, a 28-year-old Catholic from Queensland told ZENIT that as of today's moment with the Pope, he feels a new call to mission.

"It says in the Bible that when a priest speaks they should speak as if they are words from God," says Dooley, "and I'm certain that each one of us present for his speech today were touched deeply as it came from the vicar of Christ himself."

Flags were hung over barricades and songs were sung as the final leg of the Popemobile traveled around the Opera House toward St. Mary's Cathedral, where Benedict XVI will be staying through Monday.

One group, originally from Cologne, compared the experience this time around as being "slightly more personal," due to the smaller crowds and the more "laid back and easy-going atmosphere amid the excitement, which appears typically Australian," said Henny Vias.

"It's so comforting to have the Holy Father among us," said 17-year-old Tani Watson of the United States. "It's like having the great Father who unifies us all and by his presence, shows us youth that we mean something and have worth."

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On the Net:

Full text of Pope's address: www.zenit.org/article-23238?l=english

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Pope Warns Against Ignoring Creator's Plan

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Australia's Bishops Hoping for Renewal

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Asian Pilgrims Celebrate Faith, Culture

The event organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences included music, testimonies and prayers in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. The gathering was titled www.sgen.asianyouth, which is not an Internet address, but shorthand for Witnessing Worldwide. Spirit Generation. Asian Youth.

According to the organizers, the meeting highlighted the richness of Asian heritage through cultural presentations from the participating countries. The first Asian Youth Gathering was held at the World Youth Day in Paris in 1997.

The occasion was quite a spectacle, with thousands of young people -- many dressed in their native costume -- waving banners and flags of their various countries of origin.

"To be here in Sydney helps us to see that, in the world, Catholics -- though coming from very different countries -- truly have only one faith and one Church," said young Pun Ming Chi, 22, seminarian from Hong Kong, told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

Hong Kong, he said, is a multi-cultural reality, where respect for Catholics -- who in any case are a small minority -- does exist and where liberty is guaranteed. "But certainly this experience, which I am living in Australian land, will give me further strength to live the faith in my country," he added.

Hopes for China

Asked what he hopes for, he replied smiling: "That sooner or later a World Youth Day might be organized in Beijing. For us Catholics, it would be an occasion to celebrate our faith freely, united to other young Catholics of the rest of the continent and of the whole world."

Among those taking part in the celebration were many Asians residing in Australia. In Sydney alone, it is estimated that Asians constitute 3% of the population.

Especially significant is the presence of 1,500 young Vietnamese in Sydney. The community mobilized for the youth event to offer hospitality to the 2,000 Vietnamese who came to World Youth Day. Not only were the young pilgrims welcomed, but they were also given financial aid.

The Philippines has provided the largest number of pilgrims from Asia, with 2,500, while 700 have come from Indonesia and 260 from Japan.

World Youth Day organizers have not released information on the number of pilgrims from China.

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Addresses Aborigine Rights in 1st Official Address

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says World Youth Day is an occasion to reflect on what kind of world will be handed on to future generations, and he congratulated Australia for its efforts to care for the environment.

The Pope affirmed this Thursday morning local time at an official welcome ceremony at Sydney's Government House. The Holy Father was received there by Governor-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese.

In his brief address, the Pontiff touched on a variety of themes, including the rights of the Australian indigenous populations.

"Some might ask what motivates thousands of young people to undertake what is for many a long and demanding journey in order to participate in an event of this kind," Benedict XVI said. "Ever since the first World Youth Day in 1986, it has been evident that vast numbers of young people appreciate the opportunity to come together to deepen their faith in Christ and to share with one another a joyful experience of communion in his Church.

"They are eager to take part in an event which brings into focus the high ideals that inspire them, and they return home filled with hope and renewed in their resolve to contribute to the building of a better world."

The Pope affirmed that for him it is a "joy to be with" the youth. "World Youth Day fills me with confidence for the future of the Church and the future of our world," he said.

Indigenous

Noting the relative youth of the Australian nation, the Holy Father spoke of those who inhabited the land before European settlers arrived.

He said that "for thousands of years before the arrival of Western settlers, the sole inhabitants of the land were indigenous peoples, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Their ancient heritage forms an essential part of the cultural landscape of modern Australia."

And the Pontiff lauded recent moves by the Australian government to recognize indigenous rights.

"Thanks to the Australian government's courageous decision to acknowledge the injustices committed against the indigenous peoples in the past, concrete steps are now being taken to achieve reconciliation based on mutual respect," he said. "Rightly, you are seeking to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity. This example of reconciliation offers hope to peoples all over the world who long to see their rights affirmed and their contribution to society acknowledged and promoted."

Becoming saints

The Holy Father recalled the contribution that Catholics have also made to the history of Australia. He particularly mentioned Blessed Mary MacKillop. The Pope was scheduled to pray at Blessed Mary's tomb later in the day.

"With many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time," the Bishop of Rome continued "it is appropriate to reflect upon the kind of world we are handing on to future generations. [...] The wonder of God's creation reminds us of the need to protect the environment and to exercise responsible stewardship of the goods of the earth.

"In this connection I note that Australia is making a serious commitment to address its responsibility to care for the natural environment. Likewise with regard to the human environment, this country has generously supported international peacekeeping operations, contributing to conflict resolution in the Pacific, in Southeast Asia and elsewhere."

Then Benedict XVI recalled that his primary objective for being in Australia is meeting the young "from all over the world, and to pray for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all those taking part in our celebrations."

"Young people today face a bewildering variety of life-choices, so that they sometimes find it hard to know how best to channel their idealism and their energy," he acknowledged. "It is the Spirit who gives the wisdom to discern the right path and the courage to follow it. He crowns our poor efforts with his divine gifts, just as the wind filling the sails sweeps the ship forward, far surpassing what the oarsmen can achieve through their laborious rowing.

"In this way, the Spirit enables men and women in every land and in every generation to become saints. Through the Spirit's action, may the young people gathered here for World Youth Day have the courage to become saints. This is what the world needs more than anything else."

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Pope Calls Blessed Mary MacKillop an Inspiration

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says Blessed Mary MacKillop is one of the most "outstanding figures" in Australian history.

The Pope affirmed this Thursday morning local time during an official welcome ceremony at Sydney's Government House. Later in the day, the Holy Father went to pray at Blessed Mary's shrine in north Sydney.

The Pontiff praying at the Australian's shrine -- just hours before being officially welcomed by over 150,000 young people already in Sydney for World Youth Day -- underlined the universal devotion to Blessed Mary MacKillop, a key for canonization.

Mary MacKillop, born in Victoria in 1842, founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, which established schools and charitable organizations across Australia and was devoted to the care of orphans, neglected children, the homeless, sick and elderly.
Benedict XVI said he knows that Mary MacKillop's "perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on behalf of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have become a source of inspiration for all Australians."

"Generations have reason to be grateful to her and to the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and other religious congregations for the network of schools that they established here and for the witness of their consecrated life," he added.

The Sisters of St. Joseph's spokesperson, Sister Monica Cavanagh, said the Pope's visit was significant in following his predecessor's steps in recognizing the role of Blessed Mary MacKillop. Pope John Paul II beatified Blessed Mary in 1995.

Sister Monica thanked the Holy Father for his support, adding that the women religious were pleased to receive the visit of the Bishop of Rome at their sanctuary.

If she is canonized, Blessed Mary will be the first Australian saint.

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Denver Prelate Warns Against Double-Life

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Living a double life as a Catholic who goes to Mass but does not witness one's faith publicly is doomed to fail, Archbishop Charles Chaput told over 1,000 young people at an Irish pub in Australia.

The archbishop of Denver, Colorado, said this today at "Theology on Tap" at P.J. Gallagher's Irish Pub in inner Sydney as part of the World Youth Day activities. He affirmed that going to Mass on Sundays but then being unwilling to share one's faith in public is contrary to living as a true disciple of Christ, and likened it to "living in a vegetative state."

"Jesus wants all of us, and not just on Sundays," he said. "We need to take Christ at his word. We need to love him like our lives depend on it. Right now. And without excuses."

The archbishop was greeted with cries like "Viva il Papa" and "Benedetto" from the youth who filled the pub that is a half-hour train ride from the central business district.

Archbishop Chaput said loving and believing in Christ and trusting his Church is every Christian's mission in life.

"We can't live a half-way Christianity," he exhorted. "Every double life will inevitably self-destruct. Being a Christian is who you are. Period. And being a Christian means your life has a mission. It means striving every day to become more like Jesus in your thoughts and actions."

The Denver prelate first inspired 20-year-old University of Notre Dame Australia law and theology student Patrick Langrell to start "Theology on Tap" in Sydney. Langrell heard the prelate address a similar forum last August in a pub in Denver.
Knowing Church teaching

Speaking on the theme "Mission Possible: This Double-Life Will Self-Destruct," Archbishop Chaput said that knowing what the Church teaches will equip young people with the means to share its teachings.

He said that Jesus' message to the man who wanted to bury his father before following the Lord -- "leave the dead to bury the dead" -- is a stark and disturbing reminder.

"There can be no more urgent priority in our lives than following Christ and proclaiming his kingdom," Archbishop Chaput affirmed.

He called on youth to discover how God wants them to follow Christ by talking to God "humbly in prayer" and by getting to know Christ better through daily reading and praying over the Gospels.

The archbishop also told the youth to open themselves to the graces Christ gives in the sacraments.

"It's not about choosing what you want to do with your life," he said. "It's about discovering how God wants to use your life to spread the good news of his love and his kingdom."

The archbishop called on the youth to preach the Gospel with their lives "no matter where you are or whatever you find yourself doing -- going to school, working, making a home."

Quoting St John of the Cross, the prelate added: "Where there is no love, put love and you will draw love," in order to bring about a kingdom of love.

He told the young people not to get angry at human weakness and sin in the Church, but to love the Church as their mother and teacher.

"Help build her up, to purify her life and work," he urged.

"Theology on Tap" has previously been addressed by Cardinal George Pell of Sydney and three Dominican Sisters from Nashville, Tennessee, assisting with youth day preparations.

Held once a month at P.J. Gallagher's Irish Pub, "Theology on Tap" regularly draws over 600 young people.

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On the Net:

Archbishop Chaput's address: www.zenit.org/article-23234?l=english

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Cardinal: Kids Need "Vitamin C"

Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga led one of today's catecheses for 600 young people from Spain, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica and Uruguay.

Through Friday, pilgrims attending the 23rd World Youth Day have the chance to take part in catecheses on the Holy Spirit and the mission, imparted in 25 languages and at 250 different venues by cardinals and bishops from all over the world.

During today's session, the bishops reflected on the theme "Called to Live in the Holy Spirit"

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga highlighted the centrality of baptism in Christian life.

"Baptism is the day in which we are born to God. Life begins here, the mission begins here. It is the most important day of our life and often we don't remember it," he noted. "Let us say 'yes' to what is yes, and 'no' to what is no. We know that to live this in daily life at times can be difficult, but we count on the presence of the Spirit in our lives."

The cardinal also stressed the importance of knowing Christ.

"We can only follow the Lord if we have a profound encounter with him," the prelate affirmed.

Finally, he spoke of the Spirit's presence in young peoples' lives. "In confirmation we become soldiers of Christ, but at times it is hard for us to live the grace of the sacrament. However, we cannot forget that the Spirit accompanies us. The Holy Spirit wills to make a saint out of every one of you."

All the catecheses sessions were accompanied by songs, reflections and questions-and-answers, as well as by time for confession. They ended with a Mass celebrated by the cardinal or bishop assigned to the group.

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Spaniards in Sydney Might Need to Take Notes

The Spanish news agency Veritas reported that though it's not official, Benedict XVI is expected to announce that the next World Youth Day will take place in Madrid.

Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi seemed to confirm the rumor in an interview Monday when he said it will be "much easier" for Spanish youth to attend the next Youth Day.

Regardless, Spanish prelates today were intent on urging their young flock to nourish a missionary spirit. Ten bishops and thousands of Spanish pilgrims took part in the sessions.

Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, reminded pilgrims in St. Bernadette's parish in Clemton Park that "Christ wants to reach men of all times, all places and all realms of society." He asked young people to be like the apostles who, in fulfillment of this mission and impelled by the Holy Spirit, "urged all men to change their lives and be converted."

The catechesis sessions focused on "the Holy Spirit and the Mission," discussed in the light of Pentecost. All the sessions followed a common pattern, which ended with Mass.

According to the press office of the Spanish bishops' conference, after a brief introduction, the bishops imparted the catecheses, which were both preceded and followed by opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation. There was also time for debate, reflection and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, archbishop of Toledo, pointed out in St. Joseph's parish in Moorebank that "young people are tired of hearing talk about values, they want to hear about Jesus. To receive the Holy Spirit makes it possible for them to lead a new life, a healthy life."

After leading the catechesis sessions, the bishops lunched with the pilgrims.

Meanwhile in Spain, about 200 pilgrims in Salamanca and Castilla started a walking pilgrimage today, headed to Compostela. They will arrive Thursday and celebrate World Youth Day there with other pilgrims from around the nation. They will have a satellite connection with Sydney for Saturday's vigil with the Pope.

About 5,000 young Spaniards are present in Sydney. For those who remained at home, meetings have been set up in El Rocio, Madrid, Javier and Santiago de Compostela.

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Youth Day Challenge: Falling in Love

Archbishop Denis Hart affirmed this today at the first catechesis session, which was dedicated to life in the Holy Spirit.

"So, who is the Holy Spirit," the archbishop asked. "The Spirit is a powerful gift, a presence of God."

"Because we are a holy people, because we are searching after a personal relationship with Jesus, then we are invited to live by the Holy Spirit," he explained. "Living by the Holy Spirit means acknowledging the reality of God's presence in us [...] striving to follow Jesus in the way of life that he has given. This is three-fold: faithfulness to the Commandments, openness to the Word of God and being nourished by the Scriptures."

Archbishop Hart said that if the challenge is falling in love with Jesus, that means being "guided by his Spirit, and to come through our journey following a life-giving promise, which will not fade or wear out, the power of Jesus, of the sacraments he gives us and of the Word of God to make us strong and offer to the world the only possibility that it can know, of lasting happiness."

"That is why being guided by the Spirit is a guarantee of a personal relationship with Jesus and of a power for love, service and witness in which Jesus is inviting us to share," he affirmed.

Life plan

A life guided by the Holy Spirit implies a mission, the Melbourne prelate continued.

"Today we are being invited to fall in love with Jesus and follow him and to live under the Spirit. This would always include a consideration of what Jesus wants us to do with our life," he said. "We are fortunate to know that God loves us as if we are the only person in the world. For that reason, as we come to know Jesus and find in him a strength for life and for whatever may be our call, it is important that we develop a regular life of prayer. [...] Each day we should open our hearts to God in prayer."

And Archbishop Hart added, "It is important for each of us to consider whether God is inviting us to some particular work for him."

"We are invited to proclaim the beauty and joy of the Gospel to our very secular societies," he said. "When Jesus invites us he invites us to love. When Jesus calls us he gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he assures us of the power that we can achieve what he wants."

Noting that God still calls young men and women to follow him in the priestly or consecrated life, the archbishop gave particular advice.

"My recommendation is, entrust yourself to Jesus," he said. "Do not be afraid of what he might ask. Trust him. He will supply the necessary help. Mary was with the apostles praying in the upper room, waiting for Pentecost. Their fear was replaced by joy when the Holy Spirit came.

"My dear friends, remember the Church has confidence in you. We pray that you may love and lead others to love Jesus more and more and that you may follow him faithfully. [...] Whatever your chosen vocation may be, make God part of the decision, go forward trustfully and with hope, knowing that Jesus will send you the Holy Spirit, the greatest friend of all, who will never desert you, who will walk with you forever."

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On the Net:

Archbishop Hart's address: www.zenit.org/article-23233?l=english

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Pilgrim Youth to Eat 3.5 Million Meals

The organizers report that 125,000 of the young pilgrims are from countries other than Australia; another 100,000 are from the host nation. The event is the biggest and most multinational ever held on Australian soil, even more so than the 2000 Olympics.

The United States is the foreign country that sent the most pilgrims, with 15,000.

Youth Day organizers have provided these statistics as well:

An estimated 8,000 volunteers are assisting with the activities. Some 2,000 priests and 500 bishops and cardinals are present; 500 chasubles were made for the prelates and a stole for each of the priests.

One million hosts for Holy Communion were made and 120 bottles of wine will be used for the opening and closing Masses.

Pilgrims will eat 3.5 million meals and 232,000 candles will be used during the event. About 100,000 young people are sleeping in 400 schools and parishes and 10,000 in Sydney Olympic Park.

About 100 actors are involved with the Stations of the Cross performance.

Australia has approximately 5.12 million Catholics in 1,363 parishes. This is approximately 26% of the population. It has 28 territorial dioceses, four dioceses of Eastern Catholic Churches and one military diocese.

The greater Sydney region, with its four dioceses, has about 1.5 million Catholics. The Archdiocese of Sydney has almost 600,000 of those in some 141 parishes with 480 priests.

There have been three previous papal visits to Australia. In 1970, Pope Paul VI went; in 1986, Pope John Paul II; and in 1995, the Polish Pontiff went again, beatifying Mary MacKillop.

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Youth Flock to Vocations Expo

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- With a stunning waterfront view and the promise of getting an inside look at more than 110 ways to live the consecrated life, Sydney's Vocation Expo is attracting a constant flow of pilgrims.

World Youth Day already has a reputation for providing an environment in which young people can hear God's call in their lives. Testimonials of thousands of young people speak of a deep faith experience with practical life implications and an increase in vocations.

Sydney is proving to be no different.

This year's Vocations Expo is set at the heart of the city, at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Darling Harbor. The location is close to other popular youth festival venues such as Barangaroo, where the opening Mass was held. More than 110 religious orders, groups and movements are providing information on their style of vocation and consecrated life.

Free gifts such as rosary beads, Aussie tattoos, pens and food snacks aim to woo pilgrims. But visitors affirm that the testimony of those manning the booths are the real draw.

New Zealander Joanna Hardy, 19, said she attended the expo because she wanted to know more about religious orders.

"I don't want to become a nun or anything," she clarified. "But I do want to be aware of the different religious orders. The expo literally blows my mind. I had no idea so many religious orders existed."

Sister Lan from the Sisters of Nazareth based in Victoria, Australia, observed: "It is a unique opportunity for the young people to get to know the religious orders available. Importantly for us, it is a great chance to meet the young people and let them know that we do exist."

"There has been a constant flow of pilgrims," the woman religious added. "It's wonderful."

Other youth are happy to admit they think God is calling them to a life consecrated to him.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Daniels, from Atlanta, Georgia, said, "I have been discerning my vocation for a while -- although I am not sure which order I would join, this definitely helps." When asked what booth impressed him the most, though, he said, "Those nuns have really got it together."

While many regard the Catholic Church as being in a "vocational crisis," if the expo is any indication, the future looks bright.

Sister Lan agreed: "I wouldn't say there is a vocational crisis. When there is a decline in one country there is always an increase in another. I have a great faith in the Holy Spirit."

The Vocations Expo is under way through Friday.

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Papal Address at Government House Ceremony

* * *

Your Excellencies,
Dear Australian Friends,

It is with great joy that I greet you today. I would like to thank the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister Rudd for honouring me by their presence at this ceremony and for welcoming me so graciously. As you know, I have been able to enjoy some quiet days since my arrival in Australia last Sunday. I am most grateful for the hospitality that has been extended to me. Now I look forward to this evening's "Welcome to Country" by the indigenous people and to celebrating the great events which form the purpose of my Apostolic Visit: the Twenty-Third World Youth Day.

Some might ask what motivates thousands of young people to undertake what is for many a long and demanding journey in order to participate in an event of this kind. Ever since the first World Youth Day in 1986, it has been evident that vast numbers of young people appreciate the opportunity to come together to deepen their faith in Christ and to share with one another a joyful experience of communion in his Church. They long to hear the word of God, and to learn more about their Christian faith. They are eager to take part in an event which brings into focus the high ideals that inspire them, and they return home filled with hope and renewed in their resolve to contribute to the building of a better world. For me it is a joy to be with them, to pray with them and to celebrate the Eucharist with them. World Youth Day fills me with confidence for the future of the Church and the future of our world.

It seems particularly appropriate to celebrate World Youth Day here, since the Church in Australia, as well as being the youngest of any continent, is also one of the most cosmopolitan. Since the first European settlement here in the late eighteenth century, this country has become a home not only to generations of Europeans, but to people from every corner of the globe. The immense diversity of the Australian population today gives a particular vibrancy to what may still be considered, in comparison with much of the rest of the world, a young nation. Yet for thousands of years before the arrival of Western settlers, the sole inhabitants of the land were indigenous peoples, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Their ancient heritage forms an essential part of the cultural landscape of modern Australia. Thanks to the Australian Government's courageous decision to acknowledge the injustices committed against the indigenous peoples in the past, concrete steps are now being taken to achieve reconciliation based on mutual respect. Rightly, you are seeking to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity! This example of reconciliation offers hope to peoples all over the world who long to see their rights affirmed and their contribution to society acknowledged and promoted.

The settlers who came here from Europe have always included a significant proportion of Catholics, and we may be justly proud of the contribution they have made to the building up of the nation, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare. One of the most outstanding figures in this country's history is Blessed Mary MacKillop, at whose tomb I shall pray later this morning. I know that her perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on behalf of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have become a source of inspiration for all Australians. Generations have reason to be grateful to her and to the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart and other religious congregations for the network of schools that they established here and for the witness of their consecrated life. In today's more secular environment, the Catholic community continues to make an important contribution to national life, not only through education and healthcare, but especially by highlighting the spiritual dimension of the questions that feature prominently in contemporary debate.

With many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time, it is appropriate to reflect upon the kind of world we are handing on to future generations. In the words of your national anthem, this land "abounds in nature's gifts, of beauty rich and rare". The wonder of God's creation reminds us of the need to protect the environment and to exercise responsible stewardship of the goods of the earth. In this connection I note that Australia is making a serious commitment to address its responsibility to care for the natural environment. Likewise with regard to the human environment, this country has generously supported international peace-keeping operations, contributing to conflict resolution in the Pacific, in South-East Asia and elsewhere. Owing to the many religious traditions represented in Australia, this is particularly fertile ground for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. I look forward to meeting local representatives of different Christian communities and other religions during my stay, so as to encourage this important work, a sign of the reconciling action of the Spirit who impels us to seek unity in truth and charity.

First and foremost, though, I am here to meet the young, from Australia and from all over the world, and to pray for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all those taking part in our celebrations. The theme chosen for World Youth Day 2008 is taken from words spoken by Jesus himself to his disciples, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth" (1:9). I pray that the Holy Spirit will bring spiritual renewal to this land, to the Australian people, to the Church throughout Oceania and indeed to the ends of the earth. Young people today face a bewildering variety of life-choices, so that they sometimes find it hard to know how best to channel their idealism and their energy. It is the Spirit who gives the wisdom to discern the right path and the courage to follow it. He crowns our poor efforts with his divine gifts, just as the wind filling the sails sweeps the ship forward, far surpassing what the oarsmen can achieve through their laborious rowing. In this way, the Spirit enables men and women in every land and in every generation to become saints. Through the Spirit's action, may the young people gathered here for World Youth Day have the courage to become saints! This is what the world needs more than anything else.

Dear Australian friends, once again I thank you for your generous welcome and I look forward to spending these days with you and with the young people of the world. May God bless all who are present, all the pilgrims and all who live in this land. And may he always bless and protect the Commonwealth of Australia.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Sends 2nd Text Message to Pilgrims

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is rested and ready to preside at the World Youth Day events this week in Sydney, says a Vatican Spokesman.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told a press conference today that the Pope is well rested, and that the objective of the three days of rest in the center has been achieved.

The Pontiff left the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney where he spent the first days of his trip to Australia resting.

From the center the Pope was taken by car to St. Mary's Cathedral House in Sydney, his residence until the end of his apostolic visit, which officially begins tomorrow with the welcoming ceremony at the Government House.

The Holy Father will preside over the events of World Youth Day in Sydney this week. The international gathering will culminate Sunday with an open-air Mass at Randwick Racecourse.

Before leaving the Kenthurst center, the Pontiff thanked the directors and staff with a farewell gift of a replica of the mosaic "Mater Ecclesiae." He also blessed the cornerstone of the Kenthurst youth center.

"The Pope has been very happy in this center. He has been very well," said Father Lombardi.

Before leaving the center, Benedict XVI sent out his daily text message: "the Holy Spirit gave the Apostles & gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! – BXVI"

Barbecue

Around Sydney, pilgrims got a real Australian treat with the Big Aussie Barbecue. Taking place in over 200 venues, over 220,000 slices of Tip Top "Daily Bread" were served with sausages and tomato sauce.

World Youth Day ambassador Jared Crouch grabbed the tongs today and served up sausages to pilgrims at the University of Notre Dame, Broadway.

If all the 220,000 slices of bread were lined up end to end they would cross the Sydney Harbor Bridge 21 times.

Tomorrow will be "Super Holy Thursday," when the Pope will visit the shrine of Mary MacKillop and then travel down Sydney harbor on a Boat-a-cade, before being welcomed at Barangaroo.

His last event will be an official motorcade from Barangaroo to St. Mary's Cathedral House.

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Zoo Mobile Pays a Visit to Benedict XVI

Taronga Zoo outfitted its Zoo Mobile today in Sydney with animals such as a koala bear and a carpet python, and headed to the Kenthurst Study Center for a private audience with the Pope.

"We wanted to offer the Holy Father an opportunity to experience some of Australia's unique fauna, and were delighted when our partners at Taronga Zoo offered to help," said Father Mark Podesta, World Youth Day spokesman.

"The Holy Father expressed that he wanted to meet some of our native animals, so we were more than happy to offer him this experience," he said.

Other animals presented to the Pontiff included a red-necked wallaby, shingle back lizards, a parrot, a possum, a baby crocodile, an echidna and a kangaroo.

The Pope patted each of the animals and thanked the team from Taronga Zoo.

Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, explained in a press conference today that it is a tradition in Australia to show visitors the richness of the island's fauna.

"They proposed to the Pope, as they sometimes do, to take the koala in his arms," added the spokesman, "but the Pope responded saying that it was more secure in the arms of its care keeper."

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Muslims Welcome Pontiff to Sydney

Some Muslim school students will take part in serving the pilgrims, and the school will hold an interfaith event during the week.

On Thursday, Benedict will meet with 40 representatives of other faiths including Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu leaders.

More than 340,000 Muslims reside in Australia.

Father Mark Podesta, a World Youth Day spokesman, said the involvement of Islamic schools "is an opportunity to show the rest of the world that people of different backgrounds and different beliefs can live alongside one another in peace and goodwill and harmony."

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Confession, Confession Everywhere

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Supreme Knight: Youth Need to Commit

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Vatican Aid Said City Will Be Transformed

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Choosing Sydney as the venue for World Youth Day 2008 was an act of faith on the part of Benedict XVI, and the Archdiocese of Sydney, says a Vatican spokesman.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, affirmed this in the most recent edition of Vatican Television's "Octava Dies."

The spokesman is traveling with the Pope as part of his entourage to Australia.

He said he believes that with the Pope's and pilgrims' arrival, "the countenance of the Australian metropolis is being transformed for a week into the world capital of youth, and not just Catholic" youth.

World Youth Day is proving to be the most numerous event in Australia's history. It will attract some 125,000 young pilgrims from all over the world, more than the 2000 Olympic Games.

"It was an act of faith and courage of Cardinal George Pell and of the Church in Australia to invite young people worldwide to Sydney," Father Lombardi acknowledged. "It was an act of faith and courage of the Pope to accept.

"It is an act of faith and courage of the local Churches to send their young people in the measure of their possibilities, despite the cost and exhaustion of a long trip.

"However, no place of the Church is far away. The Spirit leads the disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And every place of the earth is at the center when the Eucharist is celebrated there."

"Many young people," he added, "if unable to be physically present in Sydney, will be there 'virtually,' [...] and many -- and this is what is most important -- will be there spiritually, united in prayer."

"Young people of past World Youth Days are now adults and know up to what point this experience has been wonderful for their lives," said the priest. "Today's young people, tomorrow's adults, will also know that Sydney is close, and that hope and love in the Church's future and in that of the whole of humanity also depends on them."

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Pontiff Arrives Down Under for Youth Event

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 13, 2008 (<A href="http://www.Zenit.org">Zenit.org</A>).- Benedict XVI affirmed that he is optimistic about the future of the Church in the West during the nearly 20-hour flight from Rome to Sydney this weekend.
 
After traveling 16,418 kilometers (10,201 miles), the Pope arrived at Richmond Royal Australian Air Force Base, located northwest of Sydney, at about 3 p.m. local time on Sunday.

The Holy Father is in Australia to preside over World Youth Day, to be held July 15-20 in Sydney.

He was greeted by, among others, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney.

The Pontiff spoke for 20 minutes with journalists on the papal flight in which he answered five questions.

When asked about the situation of the Church in Australia, Benedict XVI said he is "an optimist."

"Now at this historical moment we begin to see that we need God," the Pope continued. "Australia in its historical configuration is part of the Western world.

"The West over the past 50 years has seen great success, economic and technological success. But religion has been relegated."

"God is basically in the hearts of human beings and can never disappear," he affirmed.

Healing

The Pontiff said that while in Australia he intends to work for "healing and reconciliation with the victims" of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy there, much as he did when he traveled to the United States in April.

Sexual abuse is "incompatible with the behavior" required of priests, the Holy Father added.

"We have to help the priests to be [...] near to Christ, to learn from Christ," he added. "We will do what is possible to clarify what is the teaching of the Church. We will help in the education and in the preparation to the priesthood, the permanent formation.

"It is essential for the Church to reconcile, to prevent, to help and to see guilt in this problem."

When asked about climate change, Benedict XVI said that there is a need to "reawaken our consciences." He asked Catholics to find "a way of living, a style of life that eases the problems caused to the environment."

"I want to give impulse to rediscovering our responsibilities and to finding an ethical way to change our way of life and ways to respond to these great challenges," the Pontiff added.

Still valid

When asked about his hopes for the World Youth Days, the Pope said that he considered the formula for the youth gatherings, begun by Pope John Paul II, still valid for current times.

Benedict XVI added that he is confident the event will help the youth to live a mature faith.

The Pope also commented on the decision of the general synod of the Church of England last week to allow the ordination of women bishops. The Holy Father assured his prayers for the participants of the The Lambeth conference, a 10-yearly meeting of the Anglican Communion, scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The Holy Father was accompanied aboard the papal flight by 72 passengers; 27 members of the papal entourage, 43 Vatican-accredited media personnel, 2 assistants.

This international trip is the ninth of Benedict XVI's pontificate, and the second such international youth event he has presided at. The first was in Cologne, Germany, in 2005.

Itinerary

Benedict XVI will rest for three days at the Opus Dei-run Kenthurst Study Center, located northwest of Sydney.

He will move to Sydney's cathedral house before embarking on an intense few days of meetings with young people.

The first papal public event will be a welcome ceremony at Sydney's Government House Thursday, after which the Holy Father will visit the Blessed Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.

In the afternoon the Pontiff will then board the ship "Sydney 2000" and travel by sea to Barangaroo East Darling Harbor, where the Pontiff will deliver his first address to the youth pilgrims.

The Pope will meet Friday with government leaders, and later participate in an ecumenical meeting in the crypt of St. Mary's Cathedral. He will also meet with some 40 representatives of other religions.

On Saturday he will celebrate Mass with Australian bishops, seminarians and men and women religious novices, and consecrate the new altar, and in the afternoon the Holy Father will preside at the World Youth Day Vigil.

The weeklong event will culminate with an open-air Mass on July 20 at Randwick Racecourse. Some 500,000 people are expected to attend.

--- --- ---

Pope's complete itinerary: www.zenit.org/article-22783?l=english

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Pontiff: Youth Can Find Answers in Christ

The Pope said this in a video-message taped ahead of his trip to Australia, dated July 4, to the people of the nation and the young pilgrims who will take part in World Youth Day. The video was released today in Australia.

The 23rd International World Youth Day, to be held in Sydney from July 15 to 20, has as its theme "You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You, and You Will Be My Witnesses."

"How much the world needs a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit," the Pontiff said. "There are still many who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, while many others, for whatever reason, have not recognized in this Good News the saving truth that alone can satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts."

The Holy Father said that he firmly believes the youth to be the "instruments of that renewal, communicating to their peers the joy they have experienced through knowing and following Christ, and sharing with others the love that the Spirit pours into their hearts, so that they too will be filled with hope and with thanksgiving for all the good things they have received from our heavenly Father."

Benedict XVI continued: "Many young people today lack hope. They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ever more urgently in a confusing world, and they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions.

"They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another."

The Pope asked, "Where can we look for answers?"

"The Spirit points us toward the way that leads to life, to love and to truth," he stated. "The Spirit points us toward Jesus Christ."

Quoting St. Augustine, the Pontiff affirmed, "If you wish to remain young, seek Christ."

"In him we find the answers that we are seeking," he continued, "we find the goals that are truly worth living for, we find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better world. Our hearts find no rest until they rest in the Lord, as St. Augustine says at the beginning of the Confessions, the famous account of his own youth.

"My prayer is that the hearts of the young people who gather in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day will truly find rest in the Lord, and that they will be filled with joy and fervor for spreading the Good News among their friends, their families, and all whom they meet."

--- --- ---

On the Net:

Full text of papal message: www.zenit.org/article-23191?l=english

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Sydney Welcoming the Pope "In Spirit"

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Pilgrims Heading to Sydney With Hearts Full of Christ

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Spokesman Says Journey Is Organizationally Complex

VATICAN CITY, JULY 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican spokesman says the rights of indigenous Australians -- "trampled for centuries" -- will be a key topic during Benedict XVI's trip Down Under for World Youth Day.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, told journalists Wednesday about some of the details of the Pope's July 12-21 trip, his ninth apostolic journey.

The Holy Father will be accompanied by Cardinals Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals; Tarcisio Bertone, his secretary of state; and Agostino Vallini, newly appointed vicar for the Diocese of Rome.

Father Lombardi himself will be a member of the papal entourage.

The Jesuit told Vatican Radio that it is "a complex trip from the organizational point of view."

On Saturday, the Pope will leave Castel Gandolfo by helicopter and go to Fiumicino airport, to begin his trip to Sydney in a B777 Alitalia plane. The flight will last 12 hours, including a one and a half hour technical stop in Darwin, Australia.

Upon arriving Sunday, the Pontiff will rest for a few days in a private retreat center run by Opus Dei.

Cardinal Pell, archbishop of Sydney, will open the WYD celebrations on Tuesday. The following day, the Pope will be received by Governor General Michael Jeffrey and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

He will then go to the Mary MacKillop Memorial and continue on to Rose Bay, where he will be welcomed by a group of young Aborigines before embarking on the "Sydney 2000" vessel for his trip to Barangaroo and his official arrival to the Youth Day celebrations.

Father Lombardi said that "the topic of the aborigines and their rights trampled for centuries will be very present in this trip, both in the Pope's words as well as in the addresses of civil authorities."

Among the various meetings planned, the spokesman highlighted two on Friday, July 18, in St. Mary's Cathedral with representatives of other religions, increasingly present in the country due to Asian immigration, and with members of non-Catholic Christian communities.

"It should be noted that Catholics already outnumber Anglicans in Australia," he said, before reviewing with journalists the rest of the meetings, especially the Vigil and Mass at Randwick Racecourse.

Prior to his departure, the Holy Father will meet with benefactors and volunteers of WYD, Father Lombardi added, inviting them to "'go into the deep' to proclaim the Good News to the whole world."

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Programs Looks Toward Life After Sydney

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As all eyes are turned toward World Youth Day in Sydney this month, the Australian episcopal conference's National Office for Evangelization is thinking of life after the vigil and closing Mass.

The office has developed resource packet called Rewired that aims to build on the excitement of World Youth Day, to be celebrated June 15-20 in Sydney, by helping young people connect more deeply with Jesus Christ and their parish community.

Marita Winters, director of the National Office for Evangelization, and three-time veteran of World Youth Day, said "we all want to be able to tap into that level of excitement and raised spiritual awareness that is so often a feature of World Youth Day, and to translate it into a deep and lasting connection with the life of the Church."

She explained that her office developed Rewired for the purpose of welcoming "young people in the period immediately following World Youth Day, and into the future.”

The Rewired resource can be run by youth leaders over six sessions and provides an environment for young people to reflect, share and grow in their faith.

“Rewired is for young people deeply immersed in their faith as well as those who haven’t had much to do with the Church at all,” Marita said. “It is an opportunity for young people in a parish, school, or on a university campus to invite their peers to look at their faith and tradition in a welcoming environment. It is also a useful tool for a parish which wants to start a youth group.”

Copies of Rewired go on sale during the week of World Youth Day and are available from the National Office for Evangelization.

On the Net:
National Office for Evangelization: www.evangeliseaustralia.com

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SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's pre-youth day rest Down Under will be spent at an Opus Dei education center surrounded by the Australian bush.

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney confirmed last week that the Pope would be taken to the Kenthurst Study Center after his arrival Sunday in Australia.

The center, located northwest of Sydney, sits on a 25-acre plot of native bush, with the accompanying wildlife.

For its normal activities, it can accommodate 30 people.

To accommodate the Pope and visiting Church leaders, preparations are under way, most notably heightening security.

The Holy Father has only three days there to recover from jetlag and get ready for an intense few days of meetings with young people. But, Kenthurst staff expect the Pontiff will avail of the baby grand piano -- he's an accomplished pianist -- and the walking trails.

After his three days of quiet, the Pope will move to Sydney's cathedral house.
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And Partial One for Faithful Who Pray for Sydney Event

VATICAN CITY, JULY 7, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is offering a plenary indulgence for those who participate in Sydney's World Youth Day this month and a partial indulgence for those who support it with their prayers.

The conditions for the indulgences were made public in a statement Saturday signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

Benedict XVI will grant a plenary indulgence to faithful who "gather at Sydney, Australia, in the spirit of pilgrimage" to participate in celebrations for the 23rd World Youth Day, and partial indulgence to "all those who, wherever they are, will pray for the spiritual goals of this meeting and for its happy outcome," the decree said.

"Indeed, young people gathered around the Vicar of Christ will participate in the sacred functions and above all have recourse to the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist," it added. "In the sacraments received with a sincere and humble heart, they will earnestly desire to strengthen themselves in the Spirit, and, confirmed by the chrism of salvation, will openly witness the faith before others even to the ends of the earth. May God grant that the very presence of the Supreme Pontiff among the young people gathered in Sydney express and render it such."

The typical conditions for indulgences must also be fulfilled.

The decree explained: "The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who will devotedly participate at some sacred function or pious exercise taking place during the 23rd World Youth Day, including its solemn conclusion, so that, having received the sacrament of reconciliation and being truly repentant, they receive holy Communion and devoutly pray according to the intentions of His Holiness.

"The partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, wherever they are during the above-mentioned meeting, if, at least with a contrite spirit, they will raise their prayer to God the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life.

"So that all the faithful may more easily obtain these heavenly gifts, priests who have received legitimate approval to hear sacramental confessions, should welcome them with a ready and generous spirit and suggest public prayers to the faithful, for the success of the same World Youth Day."

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