Welcome ceremony in Sydney. Discourse of the Holy Father (excerpts)
Your Excellencies, Dear
Australian Friends, It is with great joy that I greet you today. I would like
to thank the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister Rudd
for honouring me by their presence at this ceremony and for welcoming me so graciously.
As you know, I have been able to enjoy some quiet days since my arrival in Australia
last Sunday. I am most grateful for the hospitality that has been extended to me.
Now I look forward to this evening’s “Welcome to Country” by the indigenous people
and to celebrating the great events which form the purpose of my Apostolic Visit:
the Twenty-Third World Youth Day. (…) Since the first World Youth Day in 1986,
it has been evident that vast numbers of young people appreciate the opportunity to
come together to deepen their faith in Christ and to share with one another a joyful
experience of communion in his Church. (…) For me it is a joy to be with them, to
pray with them and to celebrate the Eucharist with them. World Youth Day fills me
with confidence for the future of the Church and the future of our world. It
seems particularly appropriate to celebrate World Youth Day here, since the Church
in Australia, as well as being the youngest of any continent, is also one of the most
cosmopolitan. Since the first European settlement here in the late eighteenth century,
this country has become a home not only to generations of Europeans, but to people
from every corner of the globe. The immense diversity of the Australian population
today gives a particular vibrancy to what may still be considered, in comparison with
much of the rest of the world, a young nation.
Yet for thousands of years
before the arrival of Western settlers, the sole inhabitants of the land were indigenous
peoples, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Their ancient heritage forms
an essential part of the cultural landscape of modern Australia. Thanks to the Australian
Government’s courageous decision to acknowledge the injustices committed against the
indigenous peoples in the past, concrete steps are now being taken to achieve reconciliation
based on mutual respect. Rightly, you are seeking to close the gap between indigenous
and non-indigenous Australians regarding life expectancy, educational achievement
and economic opportunity! This example of reconciliation offers hope to peoples all
over the world who long to see their rights affirmed and their contribution to society
acknowledged and promoted.
The settlers who came here from Europe have always
included a significant proportion of Catholics, and we may be justly proud of the
contribution they have made to the building up of the nation, particularly in the
fields of education and healthcare. One of the most outstanding figures in this country’s
history is Blessed Mary MacKillop, at whose tomb I shall pray later this morning.
I know that her perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on behalf
of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have become a source
of inspiration for all Australians. (…) In today’s more secular environment, the
Catholic community continues to make an important contribution to national life, not
only through education and healthcare, but especially by highlighting the spiritual
dimension of the questions that feature prominently in contemporary debate.
With
many thousands of young people visiting Australia at this time, it is appropriate
to reflect upon the kind of world we are handing on to future generations. (…) The
wonder of God’s creation reminds us of the need to protect the environment and to
exercise responsible stewardship of the goods of the earth. In this connection I
note that Australia is making a serious commitment to address its responsibility to
care for the natural environment. Likewise with regard to the human environment,
this country has generously supported international peace-keeping operations, contributing
to conflict resolution in the Pacific, in South-East Asia and elsewhere. Owing to
the many religious traditions represented in Australia, this is particularly fertile
ground for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. (…)
The theme chosen for
World Youth Day 2008 is taken from words spoken by Jesus himself to his disciples,
as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (1:9).
(…)
The full text of the Holy Father's discourses are available on the Holy
See's website: www.vatian.va, and in the vatican newspaper "L' Osservatore
Romano"