3PM UPDATE: THE PAPAL BOAT IS OFF

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.

As the boat pulls into the harbour, he is out again on the deck, this time surrounded by the four Australian representatives. It looks like Indigenous Matthew Shields, 21. 

3.35: One of the young people just put a ribbon around his neck, and a priest behind quickly took if off after a couple of moments photo opportunity. 

The pilgrims wave vivaciously as the Pontiff's boat rolls into the harbour. One fellow passenger continues to chat away into his right ear... 

Now Katie Fullilove is on his right hand side as the Pontiff draws closer into the harbour.

3.37: He is certainly engaging with the young people in conversation at this special momentous historical occasion. 

The sun is reflecting on to his face, and now he turns around to prepare to disembark the boat. 

A sea of cardinals and bishops disembark the boat one by one. Bishop Julian Porteous, now volunteers and staff exit alongside other lucky passengers aboard the Papal vessel. 

3.40: the all weather version of the Pope Mobile comes into view. Cardinals'  heads   crowned with their purple zuketo await in anticipation for the Pope to disembark. 

3.44: Now the Pope disembarks, closely followed by George Pell. 

Now he's in the Pope Mobile with two other Church dignitaries:  Cardinal Pell, 

The Pope has now proceeded up the circular walkway. 

4pm: Right on schedule, the Pontiff opens saying "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

Spontaneous, "Viva Il Papa" have broken out. 

Cardinal Pell stands to give his presentation, and announces that 

"Catholic Sydney  has not provided a welcome like you received today as we travelled up the harbour, since the first Irish Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Patrick Francis Moran arrived on September 8, 1884."

Cardinal Pell acknowledges the legacy of the Papacy that is now embodied in Pope Benedict XVI.

"The papacy is ancient. Not as ancient as our aborginal peoples who lived on this harsh continent for tens of thousands of years even before the birth of Our Lord, Jesus Christ," Cardinal Pell says. 

"But more than 900 years before there was a King of England there was a Pope in Rome," he says. 

He closes saying, "You are welcome among us and we pray that your visit will strengthen us, just as Our Lord prayed that the faith of Peter would not fail because he must continue to strengthen his brothers."

Now, Archbishop Wilson welomes His Holiness. 

4.11 pm - the Holy Father opens the liturgy. 

The Tokelau Gospel procession reenacts the way the Gospel came to the Tokelau islands, which lie 500km north of Samoa, midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. 

As the sun sets, the Gospel procession in a canoe imitates the way the Gospel was brought to the island. 

4.20 pm -  The Pope begins his Homily, sitting down. 

He draws the pilgrims in, to ponder with him on what life is about, as moments of opportunity which are taken up 

Pope Benedict XVI makes it very clear what life is all about, when he says: "Your very existence has been willed by God, blessed and given a purpose!"

Later now, he says: "As Christians  you stand in this world knowing that God has a human face - Jesus Christ - the "way" who satisfies all human yearning, and the "life" to which we are called to bear witness, walking always in this light. "

His Holiness acknowledges that the "task of witness is not easy" but elaborates on why it is important, saying: "When God is eclipsed our ability to recognise the natural order, purpose, and the "good" begins to wane."

He continues and now moves into addressing the pilgrims of the world in their native tongues starting with Italian - "Mi rivolgo ora con affetto ai giovani di lingua italiana..."

His next paragraph greets the French speaking youth of the world - "Chers jeunes francophones, poussés par le désir d'approfundir votre foi, vous êtes venus des extremetés de la terre pour vivre 

Every time he begins in a second language, its as if he has a second breath of wind. 

4:58pm The Liturgy closes with the WYD theme song, "Receive the Power" as the Pontiff looks on and takes it all in... The sun meanwhile dips down below the harbour foreshore. 

The scenery and the natural lighting couldn't be more blessed.

As he walks down from the sanctuary, he is accompanied by George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney and jubilant thematic music. 

Ramping up the crowd, as he comes down the ramp, the pilgrims embrace the final moments that they have to see the Pontiff on this historical momentous occasion. 

The Pontiff is wearing his signature red shoes, and is dressed in white, with a red shoulder coat, a tradition he has revived. 

5.04pm he sits now in the Pope Mobile accompanied by Cardinal Pell, and his chair in the mobile is raised as he heads . 

A tickertape machine sprays confetti all over theh harboubour and pilgrims that are waiting to catch a close up glimpse of the Pope. 

The musical accompaniment has changed to pipe a more regal tune, as the Papal motocade weaves its way amongst the cheering, waving pilgrims. 

The pope is off now to Cardinal's residence. The route takes Hickson Road, before he travels through the historical part of the Rocks. He is now going down George Street around to Circular Quay. The Harbour Bridge in the setting sun is behind him. 

The streets are lined with  the people of Sydney, some on balconies. Small Vatican flags wave off the front of the Pope mobile. 

Bridge St is awash with thousands of people seeing the Pope for only seconds, having waited for hours. 

It's cold outside, and yet they stand in anticipation for a glimpse of Christ's vicar on earth, Pope Benedict XVI, 81 years of age.... in Australia!

5:20pm He is down now at Circular Quay station, waving to more waiting visitors and now heading down Macquarie St. (Named after Governor Macquarie, who was one of the first settlers). 

The Opera House is lit up for the Pontiff, and now His Holiness is heading down past the forecourt of this iconic feature which will stage a scene from the Station of the Cross tomorrow. 

5:30pm, the Pope continues around the foreshore in his Popemobile... heading over to the residence of His Eminence, George Cardinal Pell. 

Image courtesy of WYD 2008 ACN 118060987 as Trustee for the World Youth Day 2008 Trust ABN 74 422 698 032