Pope Welcomed at Sydney Harbour

(17 July 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI was greeted Thursday afternoon by cores of thousands of youthful pilgrims gathered on at Sydney's Darling Harbour. Chris Altieri reports...

The great yacht, Sydney 2000 ferried Pope Benedict XVI from Rose Bay to Barangaroo in Sydney’s East Darling Harbour.

Aboard ship, the Holy Father was joined by the youth of every nation of the world, and spent a few minutes with young people from several different countries up to the final approach…


Well over a hundred thousand young pilgrims gathered in Sydney’s Darling Harbour this morning to greet the holy father, at the beginning of his official public participation in the events of World Youth Day, 2008, and, upon arriving, the cheers of the young pilgrims shook the whole city…


After a short trip in the pope-mobile around the wharf, the Holy Father was officially greeted by a group of Aboriginal Australians, who offered a ceremonial dance in welcome, while choirs sang the Tu es Petrus in several languages…


The Archbishop of host city Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, accompanied Pope Benedict XVI to a covered rostrum, and spoke a heartfelt welcome in the name of the Church that is in Sydney, and of all the pilgrims…

Catholic Sydney hasn't 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 Sept. 8, 1884!

The Archbishop of Adelaide and President of the Australian Bishops’ Conference welcomed the Holy Father in the name of the whole Church in Australia, the great southern land of the Holy Spirit, as Pope Benedict described the country in his message to the people and the pilgrim faithful ahead of WYD 2008…


Against this magnificent backdrop of Sydney Harbour, we thank you for coming such a long distance to Australia, to lead us in the wonderful celebrations of World Youth Day. It is a most significant occasion for us. It is the fourth time in our nation's history, that we have had the presence of the Holy Father in our midst: the two visits of your beloved predecessor, Pope John Paul II, and the 1970 visit of Pope Paul VI, remain etched in our hearts and minds, and we consider it a true blessing, that we are now able to welcome you, the the great south land of the Holy Spirit, as this continent was first named "The Land Under the Southern Cross".


After the words of welcome, Pope Benedict Addressed the pilgrim faithful…

Standing before me I see a vibrant image of the universal Church.  The variety of nations and cultures from which you hail shows that indeed Christ’s Good News is for everyone; it has reached the ends of the earth.  Yet I know too that a good number of you are still seeking a spiritual homeland.  Some of you, most welcome among us, are not Catholic or Christian.  Others of you perhaps hover at the edge of parish and Church life.  To you I wish to offer encouragement: step forward into Christ’s loving embrace;  recognize the Church as your home.  No one need remain on the outside, for from the day of Pentecost the Church has been one and universal.

 
This evening I wish also to include those who are not present among us.  I am thinking especially of the sick or mentally ill, young people in prison, those struggling on the margins of our societies, and those who for whatever reason feel alienated from the Church.  To them I say: Jesus is close to you! Feel his healing embrace, his compassion and mercy!