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Newsflash Archives > Cardinal Pell Opens World Youth Day
CARDINAL PELL OPENS WORLD YOUTH DAY
By Andrew Rabel
Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney opened the first of six days of World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney Tuesday with an open Mass celebrated at dusk on Barangaroo near Darling Harbour.
This was attended by approximately 150,000 persons, and represented all the continents of the globe, their cheering and singing common to all. The numbers today certainly augur well for the end of the week when Pope Benedict will be present, still on holiday at Kenthurst Retreat Centre.
Cardinal Pell welcomed the group in four languages, to spontaneous cheers. This had also been preceded by a welcome from the Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd who also spoke to the group in a couple of languages as well.
In his homily he talked about young people realizing their proper vocation, “Don’t spend your life sitting on the fence, keeping your options open, because only commitments bring fulfilment. Happiness comes from meeting our obligations, doing our duty, especially in small matters and doing our duty, so we can rise to meet the harder challenges.
Joining him in the celebration of Mass were 26 Cardinals, 400 bishops, and a 300 person youth choir. Accompanying the music was a striking 80 piece orchestra.
As darkness fell over the harbour, this did little to wane the atmosphere of the pilgrims, which was absolutely electric.
This feeling has been commented by ordinary Sydneysiders as well, a boat operator saying, “It is like the feeling we had when the Olympic Games were here, but twenty times over.”
During the communion hymns, WYD veterans were pleased to see the return of Irish singer Dana Scallon who performed “We Are One Body”, her theme from the 1993 World Youth Day at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, USA.
At the conclusion of the Mass, there was an address by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Council for the Laity (which has jurisdiction over WYD) and had the young people in the palm of his hand. His comment, “You have made winter a new springtime” was received to thunderous cheers, not only because of the sunny weather greeting them that afternoon.
The Mass was preceded by a spectacular indigenous welcome, with some striking performances of Aboriginal dancing and music. After the liturgy, there was a music concert for the young people as well.
As a footnote in line with the innovative nature of this year’s WYD Pope Benedict sent the first of his text messages to pilgrims on their cell phones saying, “Young people God & his people expect much from u, because u have within u the Father’s supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus – BXVI”
Andrew Rabel, an Australian journalist, is covering the Pope's trip to Australia.
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