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 Leading the way to Barangaroo: Pope Benedict 16th on Sydney Harbour
12:45 pm The boat that the Pope will be on, the Sydney 2000 is slowly filling up with dignitaries, religious and pilgrims. Divided into three levels, the top level is packed with pilgrims, with flags and banners. They are singing and cheering as various religious join the boat. We spoke to David Gallagher the President of the Sydney Senatus of the Legion of Mary (www.legion-of-mary.org.au) who is now on the Papal boat. Looking very excited and thankful with his Legion T-shirt in hand David said “I've just got just one thing to say to the Pope – please promote the Legion of Mary!” 12:50 pm We are now at Rose Bay where the Pope will join the Sydney 2000, enroute to Barangaroo. There is a stiff cold breeze as we get closer to the ocean which is just beyond Sydney harbour's heads. Large and small police vessels can be seen patrolling the waterway. 1:45 pm A number of the smaller boats of the boat-a-cade are now joining up. Close buy is a boat full of Tongans singing and clapping. Another boat appears to have Australians and New Zealanders. At one stage the New Zealanders were performing the Haka (a traditional Maori dance) .
2:20 pm The Papal boat, closely flanked by at least eight police boats of various size, as well as jet skis, is now docking at Rose Bay. The anticipation is building as the remaining boats wait, almost hovering for our Shepherd's boat to show us the way! On one of the other boats Mass has just been celebrated and Confession is now available at the bar. 2:45 pm The boat-a-cade is now underway and onboard the media boat cameras are clicking furiously. His Holiness is at the front of the boat outside on the second level. After briefly going inside the boat His Holiness re-immerges, and can be seen meeting a number of pilgrims from the corners of the earth in national dress. All the time the Pope can be seen making the sign of the cross, blessing the crowds. Crowds of pilgrims pack the harbour shore line to greet the Pontiff as his boat makes its way past the Opera House, closely hugging the shore line, and the moving around under the bridge to Barangaroo. A Sydney fire vessel can be seen spraying water into the air in celebration. The boats in the boat-a-cade can now be seen tilting to the left as pilgrims strain to see the Pope who is now on the starboard side of their boats. 3:35 pm the Papal boat has arrived at Barangaroo. We are just waiting for the Pope to appear from the boat. 3:45 pm The Pope appears from the boat to an immense roar from the crowd. He is followed closely by Cardinal Pell of Sydney. 4:45 pm At various times through out the Popes speech the crowd erupts into cheers, especially when His Holiness speaks in the languages of Italian, French, Spanish and of course German 3:47 pm The Papal motorcade is now underway as His Holiness weaves his way through Barangaroo before biging the welcoming service inculding a Gospel reading, (but not Mass). Next the Papal motorcade will make its way through the Sydney city to St Mary's Cathedral where His Holiness will be staying close by. |
