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Category >> Pope Benedict
 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.
Today's txt from the Holy Father:
Young friend the Spirit is calling u 2 be a bearer of the good news of Jesus 2 your generation - BXVI
 Pope Benedict greets the pilgrims at Randwick After flying over the gathered pilgrimsin a helicopter, the Pope, in the Popemobile, drove into the Randwickprecinct and almost at walking pace drove passed the pilgrims. Several times the motorcade stopped while the Popemobile's window was opened so that the Pontiff could personally bless anumber of small children that were held up to him.
 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."
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".
 The Last Supper 3 pm Station 1: The Last Supper with a special appearance by the Holy Father 3:18 pm Station 2: The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane where Christ prepares for his death 3:31 pm Station 3: Jesus before the Sanhedrin
 TXTs from BXVI The Spirit impels us 4ward 2wards others; the fire of his love makes us missionaries of God's charity. C u tomorrow night - BXVI Each day Pope Benedict XVI is sending text messaged to Pilgrim's mobile phones. Tomorrow pilgrims will walk from North Sydney across the Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecource where they will spend the evening with the Pope in a vigil including adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of Jesus Christ.
Todays txt message from BXVI; The Holy Spirit is the principal agent of salvation history: let him write your life-history 2! - 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.'
 Leading the way to Barangaroo: Pope Benedict 16th on Sydney Harbour
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.
"Young Friend, God & his people expect much from u, because u have within u the Father's supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI"
Pope Benedict XVI has chosen a retreat centre on Sydney's north-western outskirts for his three-day holiday in Australia, the Sunday Telegraph reported Sunday. The rumour is that all he has asked for during his holiday is Piano... |
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