Pope tells young people power of Holy Spirit can transform world

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- With prayer and openness, young people can receive the power of the Holy Spirit and transform the world, Pope Benedict XVI told participants at World Youth Day.

"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," the pope told them July 20 as he celebrated the Mass closing the six-day youth gathering.

Some 350,000 people attended the morning Mass at Royal Randwick Racecourse and, police said, more than half of them had braved the cold and spent the night camping out at the track. World Youth Day officials put Mass attendance at 400,000.

Annalee Moyer, one of two U.S. members of the World Youth Day International Liturgy Group, was among the campers.

As she prepared to read the English-language prayer of the faithful during the July 20 Mass, she said, "I think I got three or four hours" of sleep. "It was really cold; I kept waking up."

The overnight scene at Randwick, where temperatures reached 47 F, was amazing, she said.

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Pope apologizes to Australians
for 'betrayal' of clergy sex abuse

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said he was "deeply sorry for the pain and suffering" endured by Australian victims of clerical sexual abuse.

Describing the abuse as "so grave a betrayal of trust," he said it deserves "unequivocal condemnation."

Pope Benedict offered the apology July 19 during a Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral with Australia's bishops and representatives of the country's priests, religious, seminarians and novices.

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Set amid Sydney landmarks,
stations attract hundreds of thousands

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- In a week when the presence of Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney for World Youth Day had produced multiple memorable moments, the re-enactment of Jesus' last days on earth was an event the likes of which this city had not seen before.

Combining traditional and contemporary elements of song, dance and drama set amid many of Sydney's iconic landmarks, this huge devotional production attracted hundreds of thousands to key locations in the city and harbor shores. Joining Sydney participants was a worldwide viewing audience estimated to be more than 500 million.

For three hours Christ's passion unfolded at Sydney's Domain, Art Gallery, Opera House, Darling Harbor and the old dockyard at Barangaroo. Pilgrims at each location were linked by giant video screens. Meanwhile a golden winter's afternoon light turned to twilight and finally full darkness on the harbor as Jesus' body was taken down from the cross.

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Aborigines play prominent role in pope's welcome to Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- To the haunting drone of didgeridoo, Pope Benedict XVI's arrival at Rose Bay began with a "sweeping dance" performed by three young Australian Aborigines.

The clearing of debris from the ground ahead of the pope symbolized "purification and new beginnings," said one of the dancers, Matt Shields, 23, a Kamilaroi from western New South Wales. The dance was one of several events highlighting Australia's indigenous peoples July 17, the pope's first day of participating in World Youth Day events.

Earlier in the day, Pope Benedict had spoken about new beginnings for Australia's indigenous peoples during a brief speech at Sydney's Government House when he applauded the government's recent apology to Aborigines for the stolen generations forcibly separated from their families. The Australian government's acknowledgment of injustices against indigenous peoples, the pope said, was "courageous."

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Religious differences can't stop dialogue,
pope tells Australians

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Differences among Christians and between Christians and other religions cannot be ignored, but they also cannot be an excuse to stop dialogue, Pope Benedict XVI told religious leaders in Sydney.

The pope held separate meetings July 18 with representatives of Australia's Christian communities and with representatives of other religions.

At the ecumenical gathering, the pope said that recognizing each other as Christians because of a common baptism is just the beginning of the relationship that should exist among followers of Christ.

"The road of ecumenism ultimately points toward a common celebration of the Eucharist, which Christ entrusted to his Apostles as the sacrament of the church's unity," he said.

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Youths join pope for lunch, present gifts,
including Mickey Mouse hat

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- The 12 young adults who shared lunch July 18 with Pope Benedict XVI also shared with him stories about their lives and their countries.

And they brought him gifts, including handicrafts from their home countries and three CDs of classical music.

Armando Cervantes, the 27-year-old director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Orange, Calif., presented the pope with a classic from the top tourist destination in his diocese -- Disneyland.

The Mickey Mouse hat, featuring the famous character's big ears, was inscribed "Benedict XVI," Cervantes said, adding that the pope did not try it on, but he was smiling.

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Pope urges young people to respect life by safeguarding all creation

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Wonder and awe, tradition and novelty were combined July 17 as Pope Benedict XVI shared a 45-minute boat ride through Sydney Harbor, chatting with a handful of young people before formally addressing thousands of them.

As the pope's boat left Rose Bay, he briefly sat in the wooden throne placed on the bow. But soon the young people introduced to him crowded around and he stood with them at the railing, chatting and waving to people on shore and on boats escorting them to the welcoming ceremony.

At Rose Bay, Aboriginal elders greeted the pope, gave him gifts and, dancing, led him to the water's edge.

Once the pope's boat reached the old dockyard at Barangaroo, a young Aborigine greeted the pope with a hug, and the pope stood with a broad smile on his face as young indigenous danced for him.

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For some, absence of Iraqis dampens joy of welcoming pope to WYD

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- For some participants at World Youth Day, the joy of welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the World Youth Day celebration July 17 was dampened by the absence of a Chaldean Catholic delegation from Iraq.

Salina Hasham, a World Youth Day employee, has been working for months trying to get the 170-member Iraqi delegation to Sydney.

At first, it seemed the Australian government would not issue any visas to the group, Hasham said. Then 10 visas were granted and, finally, a total of 25 visas were approved.

But as of July 17, she said, "they are stuck in Iraq. They have been at the airport for days, but flight after flight has been canceled."

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Pope formally welcomed to Australia with 21-gun salute, military band

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI formally was welcomed to Australia with a 21-gun salute and bright sunshine that had only just begun drying the dew in the grassy garden of Sydney's Government House.

Although he arrived in Australia July 13 and in Sydney July 16, the first days of his stay were dedicated to relaxation.

Protocol took over July 17 with the government's official welcoming ceremony, complete with a papal review of members of the Australian armed forces, including the Australian Army Band, which played "Waltzing Matilda" only after the pope had left.

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Amid the freebies, young people gravitate
toward booths of religious

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Free Internet access, free coffee, free lollipops and live music were offered at the World Youth Day vocations fair, but the young people seemed most attracted by the generally young brothers, sisters and priests staffing the booths.

A huge hall in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre was filled with nearly 100 booths offering information about dozens of religious orders, priestly service in Australian or U.S. dioceses, lay movements, evangelization projects and natural family planning.

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Vatican diplomat tells WYD pilgrims
Spirit guides them to God

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- The Vatican's ambassador to Egypt told World Youth Day pilgrims that the Holy Spirit will guide them in their relationship with God and stick with them when they leave the international youth festival.

Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald told New Zealand and Pakistani youths gathered in St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in southern Sydney July 16 that the Holy Spirit "confirms the Christian's special relationship with God."

"It is the Spirit that helps us to relate to the Father and Son, and it is the Spirit that allows us to pray," said the archbishop during the talk, part of the July 15-20 World Youth Day activities in Sydney.

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In a sea of World Youth Day pilgrims,
dozens from mainland China

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- In brilliant winter sunshine the old docklands at Barrangaroo became a moving sea of national flags unfurling above the heads of the 150,000 pilgrims who had come from different corners of the earth to celebrate one faith and liturgy.

Among the flags was one from China: About 60 pilgrims from mainland China attended World Youth Day in Sydney. Among them were priests not registered with the Chinese government who, for the first time in their lives, wore the black and white collar that identifies them as a Catholic priest.

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World Youth Day kicks off in Sydney with Mass, dancing, testimonies

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- World Youth Day officially kicked off July 15 with an opening Mass celebrated by Sydney Cardinal George Pell before an estimated 140,000 people.

Before the Mass, as the pilgrims gathered on the old docklands at Barangaroo, they heard testimonies of faith experiences at previous World Youth Days, watched dancing by a variety of Aboriginal Australian and South Pacific islander groups and cheered a procession of 160 national flags.

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Pilgrims make Hawaii stop part of preparation for World Youth Day

HONOLULU (CNS) -- Hundreds of pilgrims from the U.S. mainland stopped in Hawaii on their way to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia, and whether they stayed one day or several, they made the most of their island visit.

Twenty-five people from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., led by Father Daren Zehnle, were the first. They were in Hawaii July 3-7 and stopped by the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu for Mass July 6.

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Teens To Provide
World Youth Day Web Coverage From Sydney

WASHINGTON – Twenty-two “youth reporters” have been trained in Washington and Los Angeles to report on events at the tenth international World Youth Day, set for July 15-20 in Sydney, Australia. Training was sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in cooperation with MyCatholicVoice and the Embassy of Australia, as a way to provide Catholics around the world with real-time coverage of the event, in addition to coverage provided by traditional media. Training occurred during June at the Australian Embassy in Washington and the Australian Consulate in Los Angeles. Those unable to attend in person received training by attending “virtually” over the internet.

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U.S. To Send Largest International
Pilgrim Group To World Youth Day In Sydney

WASHINGTON---The United States will send 15,000 young people to World Youth Day, the international event convened by Pope Benedict XVI, scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, from July 15 through 20. According to U.S. organizers, this will be the largest delegation representing any country outside of Australia. The young pilgrims will be joined by 50 U.S. bishops, including Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The young people, most of whom are in their late teens and young adult years, are traveling to Australia in 1,140 groups that range in varying sizes up to 520 individuals. Typically, the groups are organized by dioceses, parishes, religious associations and schools, though some groups are families who have chosen to make the journey on their own.

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Pope asks Catholics to pray for WYD;
Vatican announces indulgences

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics around the world to pray for the young people who will gather with him in Sydney, Australia, for the celebration of World Youth Day.

To help encourage the prayers of all, the Vatican announced July 5 that the pope had authorized a special indulgence for anyone who, "with a contrite spirit," raises a "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," a Vatican decree said.

Pope Benedict spoke about his July 12-21 trip to Australia when he met visitors at his summer villa south of Rome for the July 6 recitation of the Angelus. World Youth Day runs July 15-20 in Sydney.

Australian young people, he said, had been preparing for the event with a prayerful pilgrimage of the World Youth Day cross, "a silent witness of the covenant pact between the Lord Jesus Christ and the new generations."

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U.S. nuns flock to Sydney as pilgrims,
volunteers for World Youth Day

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- The gathering of American sisters in Sydney's Hyde Park was a harbinger of things to come as Australia's largest city began to transform under the influx of hundreds of thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims.

The 35 women religious representing a dozen U.S. congregations are World Youth Day pilgrims and volunteers, acting in various evangelical and liturgical roles. Many will serve as extraordinary ministers of Communion at Pope Benedict XVI's closing Mass, where more than 500,000 worshippers are expected to attend.

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Social networking site
connects youths to build faith, friendship

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Sydney Cardinal George Pell and Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher, the World Youth Day coordinator, launched the first exclusive World Youth Day social networking Web site to connect pilgrims around the globe.

The Web site -- www.Xt3.com -- was launched June 12 in Sydney with 100 young people whom Cardinal Pell and Bishop Fisher invited to be their online friends.

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West Virginia youths
'ecstatic' about being on boat with pope

WHEELING, W.Va. (CNS) -- A group of 26 West Virginians selected to accompany Pope Benedict XVI on the "Sydney 2000" cruise boat for the papal arrival at World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, July 17 were "ecstatic" to have that opportunity.

Mike Hall, director of the Wheeling-Charleston diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adults and Campus Ministries, said the group was one of eight in the world chosen to accompany the pope on the boat.

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