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.

The Pope has arrived! He embraces the pilgrims, before retiring to vesting area.

The Cardinals of the world begin to process onto the sanctuary. The choir and orchestra play Gloria A Te, Christo Gesu.

The procession is an absolute spectacle, the theatre and ceremony of this is extraordinary. 

Even in the the outdoor Cathedral of Randwick Racecourse, the reverence of everyone present is profound.

Each of the Cardinals kiss the altar, before the Pope does the same.

For the Introit, Gregorian chant Spiritus Domini is sung.

10.09am "In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit', "Peace be with you"

Cardinal Pell, introduces the mass.

"This morning, the church of Sydney rejoices"

"The church is alive and the Church is young," Cardinal Pell continues.

"At World Youth Day, the church appears as she truly is - alive and evangelical" 

In the context of vocations, priesthood, religious life, marriage and family life, the Cardinal encourages the pilgrims to choose one saying, "One mission is better than a thousand options".

"This morning in Sydney we are truly at the heart of the church," he comments and later prays, "That we may be more faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ [in the Church]."

The Holy Father leads the congregation in the Kyrie. 

Then the Gloria is sung.

The first reading is taken from the book of Acts 1: 3- 8, which is delivered in Spanish and Acts 2: 1 - 12 which is read in French, thus engaging the universal Church.

Here, we hear the the context of the WYD08 theme. When Christ had risen from the dead and spent 40 days with his apostles, the apostles asked him 'Lord has the time come, are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, that you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samara, and indeed to the ends of the earth".

Tenor Andrew Goodwin, sings the psalm "Lord send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth".

The second reading is from St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 13

A group of young pilgrims along with seminarians from the Pacific Regional Seminary on Suva, Fiji animate the Gospel procession. The performers are dressed in traditional Fijian attire.

After incensing the Gospel, the Gospel according to Luke Chapter 4: 16 - 22A. It is sung by Br Mannes Tellis, O.P. 

At 10:45, Cardinal George Pell now announces the 24 confirmands (candidates for confirmation).  There are 12 women and 12 men, representing both Australia and the ends of the world. 

PAPAL CALL TO ACTION

 Now the Holy Father addresses the candidates calling them to question how they are using their gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit?

"What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit in the midst of a world that wants to forget God, or even rejects him in the name of a falsely-conceived freedom? 

"How are you using the gifts you have been given, the "power" which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? "

When he later calls the young people to receive their vocation, "Open your hearts to that power! I address this plea in a special way to those of you whom the Lord is calling to the priesthood and the consecrated life. 

"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, and using all your talents in the service of others!"

To this, his audience broke into appreciative and spontaneous applause. 

After he closes, there is a few moments silence to pause and reflect on His Holiness's words of encouragement and hope. 

Ceremony of Confirmation  

The 24 candidates and their sponsors approach the Holy Father, where he anoints each candidate with Chrism (Holy Oil). The Holy Father lays his hand on each candidate signifying and effecting the giving of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile the anointing with Chrism places an visible and invisible seal of the presence of the Holy Spirit upon them. 

At Confirmation each candidate takes a new name which they have chosen and they are called by this.

We now at the liturgy of the Eucharist. The high point of the Mass.

The Our Father is sung in Latin, the universal language of the Church.

900 Priests and extraordinary ministers of communion file out to distribute holy communion to the congregation. They priests are identified by their distinctive red stoles, specially designed and made for WYD08.

The Holy Father distributes holy communion, each kneeling and receiving the blessed sacrament on their tongue.

The solemn tones of Mozart's Laudate Dominum echo throughout the Southern Cross Precinct as the pilgrims return from communion, each taking the time to pray and reflect on the sacrifice that has just been offered.

The racecourse is silent, only the noise of a few planes and helicopters flying nearby can be heard. Through the sacrament of communion, the pilgrims are united again as members of the universal church.

The Holy Father gives the final blessing, before the assembled pilgrims break out into applause.

The Holy Father leads the Angelus - the prayer remembers the decisive moment of history and faith when God took on the human flesh in Mary's womb. The prayer focuses on the words exchanged between the Angel and Mary.

Cardinal Pell, the host of WYD08 thanked the Holy Father, the pilgrims of the world and everyone that has been involved in making WYD08 a success.

Cardinal Rylko, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Vatican's governing body for WYD addressed the pilgrims.

"Sydney has been transformed into a cenacol for a new pentecost". exclaimed the Cardinal

'Thanks to the witness of faith to its many sons and daughters of Australia....we can look to the future with greater confidence'. he continued

The Holy Father speaking in tongues to the Italian speaking, French speaking then German speaking pilgrims followed by the Spanish and Portoguese speaking pilgrims.

The Holy Father announced Madrid as the host of the next WYD in 2011.

Youth Festival events will continue now, as pilgrims file out.

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