Category >> Cardinal Pell
 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.
 Pope Benedict XVI walks to the altar. After a very cold night of sleeping under the stars, the pilgrims awake to the sounds of the choir of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, leading the pilgrims in Morning prayer. The Holy Father flies across the Southern Cross Precinct. He gets out and moves into the pope-mobile. Once again, The Holy Father takes to the streets of Sydney, this time greeted by the many Sydney-siders that have come out to welcome him. Inside Randwick racecourse, Guy Sebastian warms the pilgrims with a moving performance of 'I Surrender All', 'Falling In Love with Jesus' and the WYD theme song 'Receive the Power' The pilgrims as well as the many thousands of people that have just arrived at Randwick for Mass this morning are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Pope Benedict, for the celebration of Holy Mass, the high point of WYD week. The pope-mobile stops as the window is wound down and a baby is passed to the Holy Father for a blessing - obviously an unscheduled moment, but an eternal moment that will last a lifetime. The motorcade winds throughout the racecourse, ensuring that as many pilgrims as possible get a glance of their shepherd - Pope Benedict XVI.
 Pope Benedict XVI at the WYD Evening Vigil Gary Pinto performs 'Behold The Cross' as the WYD Cross & Icon is carried onto the sanctuary and put into position. Just as the young people made their pilgrimage to Randwick today, the presence of the Cross and Icon highlight the culmination of the journey is here. 7.15 Led by representatives from many nations, Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed to the Evening Vigil as he processes behind them onto the sanctuary to lead the congregation in prayer. The Holy Father is looking remarkably fresh after another full day of activity. As at Barangaroo, the stage is awash with bright red, signifying the earthy colours of the land that is the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit, Australia, as well as the fire of the Holy Spirit. Lauren Zolezzi, performs newly commissioned hymn, Our Lady of the Southern Cross. 7.24pm - The Holy Father opens the vigil ceremony, "In the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit."
 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.
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
The Barangaroo precinct appears to be completely full, with reports that some pilgrims are unable to get inside.
5:00 pm The sun has just set and already the temperature is heading south with a chill in the air as the Mass' readings are read in various languages.
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After Cardinal Pell's homily, we move to the Prayers of the Faithful offered in English, German, Sudanese, Polish, Vietnamese and Arabic.
4:30 pm The sun is slowly setting behind Balmain as the opening Mass for WYD gets underway.
