Sydney: Pilgrims reflect on Papal text message

Young Roman Catholic pilgrims attended religious classes throughout Sydney today, a quiet recovery after a Mass and pop concert thronged by more than 100,000 people the night before.

The second day of the World Youth Day celebration offered a relaxed schedule, beginning with “time for silence for reflection,” according to the pilgrims’ official handbook.

Afternoon events include a pilgrimage walk to the downtown St Mary’s Cathedral, barbecues at hundreds of venues around the city, and a beach party at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach featuring a rapping American priest.

Pope Benedict XVI, enjoying a final day of rest before joining the events, sent a daily text message to pilgrims’ mobile phones: “The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles and gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI.”

Nearly 250,000 people registered for World Youth Day, more than half from overseas.

The scale of the event was revealed when pilgrims arrived in droves and gathered along a waterfront yesterday near the landmark Sydney Harbour Bridge for a twilight Mass, beginning with a procession of groups from 168 countries waving their national flags.

In his sermon, Sydney’s Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, urged the pilgrims to keep the faith through self-discipline and prayer.

“Many of you have travelled such a long way that you may believe that you have arrived indeed at the ends of the Earth,” Cardinal Pell said. “If so, that’s good, for our Lord told his first apostles that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the Earth.”

Rites, including the Holy Communion, left many in tears. Some in the crowd sang along with the choir and orchestra as they played traditional hymns and more upbeat Christian pop songs.

The pilgrims – who are staying in churches, schools and volunteers’ homes - have filled the city for days, recognisable by their official yellow, red and orange backpacks and their cheerful greetings and outbursts of song. Sydney residents and commuters have had to deal with street closures and bus route detours around the major venues.

The star of the show, Pope Benedict XVI, has been resting at a retreat on Sydney’s outskirts before joining the celebrations tomorrow.

He will receive a traditional Aboriginal welcome and tour Sydney’s harbour by boat before delivering a major address to pilgrims. A papal Mass on Sunday before thousands at a racetrack in the city is scheduled to end the proceedings.