 The Papal Farewell to WYD Volunteers iin Sydney 9. 53am Now after shaking hands with cardinals and bishops, including Bishop Anthony Fisher O.P., Benedict XVI mounts the stairs and enters the Qantas plane, to head back to Rome.
TODAY'S TEXT MESSAGE This morning Pope Benedict XVI sent out his daily text message to the pilgrims of the world: "Dear friend, u must be holy & u must be missionary: never separate holiness from misssion - BXVI".
 Meeting Pilgrims on the Papal Boat
After boarding the boat, His Holiness has greeted several of the 16 young people who have been selected to board the boat with the Pontiff.
He has just gone in to sit down. He looked positively thrilled to be here, standing out on the deck to greet the young folk.
We can see that pilgrims line the foreshore to get the vantage point of the Pontiff.
As the Papal boat hugs the foreshore in its journey to Barangaroo, the pilgrims fill the grounds, and lively dances are underway on stage - ramping up the vibe.
 Arriving in Sydney: Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican spokesperson, Fr Lombardi has reported just now that the speech given had the ceremony at Government House 'went all well.'
In a press conference just given by Pope Benedict XVI's, spokesperson, Fr Lombardi reported on the Papal movements. Today, Taronga Zoo took some animals to show the Pope - a koala amongst other fauna - to introduce him to the native Australian wildlife, as Australians are proud of the flora and fauna, that are specific to Australia, said Fr Lombardi. Vatican Press spokesperson, Fr Lombardi reported that the pontiff when offered the koala to hold said "No, you take it, its much safer in your hands, than in mine." As well today, His Holiness gave a blessing to the policemen who are taking care of his security during this period. One policeman who is "gravemente malato di cancro" (gravely sick with cancer) today received a special blessing from the Pontiff and received one rosary. He also had a brief conversation with the Pope. And he tried on the policeman's hat. In the same press conference, one journalist asked about the location of the next WYD, and Fr Lombardi quelled the question saying, wait until the end of WYD to find out. Fr Lombardi, said that WYD will change to become a 'conclusive event' as there will be more attention paid to the preparation period - more WYD events are to be held before the week of official WYD. The sense of his answer was: It will be a big period, with events some months before to be part of WYD as well. Vatican Press spokesperson would not say whether the Pope will speak about clerical sexual abuse. Fr Lombardi told that perhaps the Pope in his first speech will talk tomorrow about the Australian situation, in response to one journalist's question. Tonight the Pope will sleep at the Cardinal's residence of St Mary's Cathedral.
WYD Debating Champions will be crowned tonight as international debaters take on local orators to compete tonight in the final of the 'Papal Plate' debating competition to be held at Sydney University's Great Hall at 8.30pm.
Earlier today at the same location, Cardinal Pell addressed the international students of the world and encouraged them to take the Gospel into public life.
After getting through the semi-final rounds earlier this week of the 'Papal Plate' WYD Debating Competition, three students from Campion College Australia will represent Australia.
Their opposition, three pilgrims from Oxford, England will debate the affirmative stance, 'That God is dead', while the Aussie team debate the negative.
WYD 'PAPAL PLATE' DEBATING COMPETITION FINAL
AUS v UK
The 'Papal Plate' WYD Debating competitions are part Carnivale Christi - the WYD International Young Adult Festival.
Carnivale Christi is also hosting the 'Papal Plate' WYD soccer competition - The winners to be decided tomorrow.
The line up for the semi-finals and finals currently stand as follows:
WYD 'PAPAL PLATE' SOCCER COMPETITION LINEUP
AUS v USA ITALY v LEBANON POLAND v AUSTRIA PERU v THE NETHERLANDS
It will be played on Sydney University's No 1 Oval tomorrow night - no doubt drawing plenty of home crowd support who will cheer their hearts out and bring their flags to wave - filled with the spirit after welcoming Pope Benedict XVI at Barangaroo.
 “We have been invaded by joy,” Bishop Anthony Fisher announced this morning ahead of the Opening Mass to be held this afternoon at Barangaroo.
 When Cardinal Pell and Bishop Anthony Fisher OP went to have lunch yesterday with the Pontiff, they took a turn about the grounds. There was no mention of a spot of tennis however.
Although 81 years of age, Pope Benedict XVI set a fast pace it seems, with Bishop Fisher reporting that he had trouble keeping up with him when they went for a "walk in the garden" he says.
"He is the most charming man," Bishop Fisher says of the His Holiness.
The Pope is said to have asked about different events that were on during WYD, but was already well-versed when it came to talking about Australia.
Image courtesy of WYD 2008 ACN 118060987 as Trustee for the World Youth Day 2008 Trust ABN 74 422 698 032
The 'Papal Plate' soccer trials are underway - Whoever said that sport shouldn't be mixed with religion? Hundreds of young pilgrims are battling it out on St John's College Oval down at Sydney University showing their national colours in the first ever WYD International soccer competition. 11.24am: Four games of soccer are going on at the same time. Word is in that in an JPII v Benedict XVI head to head opening game, Poland have just scored a goal against Germany. Meanwhile, Croatia is battling it out against Canada, while New Zealand is playing Brazil. It is a test of speed and agility. 7 minute halves, 14 minute games - all competing for 1 Papal Plate. 28 teams. One faith.
 Sisters of Nazareth at the Vocations Expo Plenty of religious and lay people will be on hand to talk about their experiences and movements, such as Regnum Christi and Sisters of Life. The Vocations Expo will be running for the duration of WYD Tuesday (10 - 3.30), Wednesday (1pm - 10pm), Thursday (5.30 - 10pm) and Friday (6.30 - 10pm) during the week of WYD.
6: 15pm As communion is distributed from points around Barangaroo, hymn, Eat this Bread, is sung.
A traditional Maori hymn is sung after the distribution of communion and is intended to help people direct their hearts and minds in thanksgiving for Who and What they have just received, begins.
Afterward, Archbishop Rylko, Head of the Pontifical Council of the Laity (PCL) addresses the congregation.
This is followed by the Offertory Procession, as to the tune of "Come O Holy Spirit" - the WYD Song of Denver in 1993.
The second reading is in French.
The Gospel procession features group of 14 young Torres Strait Islander boys from St Teresa's Abergowie in Townsville Queensland.
They are dressed in traditional yellow swaying islander skirts. The drums signal the coming of the Gospel - que será el evangelio según San Lukas - according to Luke.
Their cheering and waving reflect the warmth of the setting sun, as they wait in anticipation.
"Bene, molto bene, benissimo" says Giovanni Nicoló, 40 and Giovanni Di Silvestre, 35, who have both come from Roma to celebrate the WYD with 11,000 Italians.
Testimonies of previous WYDs from young Mark Schembri and Beth MacNamara recount the power of WYD.
"I hadn't been to confession in a long time," Beth says speaking about her pilgrimage to WYD in Toronto in 2002.
"And I went and the priest says, Jesus doesn't care what you've done, he just wants to give you a big hug. The tears were coming down," she continues, remembering how moved she was by the occasion.
Swaying flags, waiting pilgrims, priests lined in white with swaying red stoles ready to hear confessions line the barricades waiting for the arrival of His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell to open the Mass.
"Some say there is no place for Faith. I say they are wrong," Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd says, opening proceedings, proud to be hosting WYD.
"Some say Faith is the enemy of reason. I say they are wrong," he continues.
The Cardinal opens welcoming the German speaking pilgrims, Spanish speaking, French speaking and Italian speaking. Confidently his voice booms across Barangaroo, welcoming thousands pilgrims from the "ends of the earth."
"And finally all the English speaking pilgrims of the world, from near and far. To the Irish and English speaking pilgrims whose ancestors first planted the faith on this continent.
He continues and welcomes the Americans and our neighbours from the Pacific, and all the islands.
"All our friends from Asia we are honoured to have you in such numbers," Cardinal Pell continues.
The first reading from the book of the prophet Ezekial is in Spanish, and then repeated in English.
5.10pm, a winter breeze moves among the crowd, while the responsorial is sung, and the sun is now lowered beyond the horizon.
There is still twilight around the scene, as the Mass proceeds in this "Great Southern Land of the Holy Spirit."
To be continued...
Image courtesy of Bridget Spinks
When the Polish Missionary Sisters of Christ the King went to venerate the Cross that has spent the last year travelling Australia, they felt closer to JPII and were reminded of their mission, they said. For one Sister, Sr Monica, it was her second visit to visit the Cross. She first visited the Cross in Auburn. "Our Polish Pope touched the Cross, which is very special for us, because we know this Cross was made for us for WYD. "They [The Cross & Icon] are symbols of WYD, also a sign of God's love for us. Jesus died on the Cross for us." The Cross is the crux of their mission - and is an important part of their habit. After describing how the grey and white habit unique to the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King, she showed me her Cross saying, "We are the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King, so we wear the cross as Christ's Kingdom starts on the Cross." "We see Jesus as a King sitting on the throne which is the Cross," she says. There are so many nuns in Sydney for WYD, each wearing their particular habit as a distinguishing yet unifying feature. What is the unique mission of the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King? "We look after Polish migrants who have left Poland from different areas. Those who left after WWII, and many left in the 80s. We are sent to countries by our superiors. We look after elderly people here. We look after the Polish priests of the Society of Christ the King," she says. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blog test 
After Cardinal Pell's homily, we move to the Prayers of the Faithful offered in English, German, Sudanese, Polish, Vietnamese and Arabic.
The Journey of the Cross & Icon (JCI) today travelled from Circular Quay, to Belmore Park (Central) before arriving at Victoria Park (next to Sydney Uni) and finishing its journey at St John's College this afternoon.
