Tuesday, July 15, 2008

World's biggest Christian festival launched with Sydney mass


World Youth Day opening mass on the shores of Sydney Harbour July 15

Channelnewsasia.com
Posted: 15 July 2008 1659 hrs

SYDNEY : The world's biggest Christian festival opened Tuesday with a spectacular harbour side mass for thousands of pilgrims taking part in World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney headed by Pope Benedict XVI.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a committed Anglican, made a surprise appearance at the start of the open-air service to welcome more than 200,000 pilgrims from around the world to the week-long celebration.

Rudd, taking to the stage alongside Darling Harbour after a stirring traditional welcome dance by Aborigines, described Catholic World Youth Day as a great celebration of life and faith.

"Too often in the history of the world, when young people travel in great number to other parts of the world, they do so in the cause of war, but you are here as pilgrims of peace," he said.

"Some say there is no place for faith in the 21st century, I say they are wrong.

"Some say that faith is the enemy of reason, I say also they are wrong," Rudd told the pilgrims, welcoming them in several languages, including German, Italian, French, Korean and Bahasa Indonesia.

The mass -- celebrated by the leader of Australia's Catholics, Cardinal George Pell -- attracted an estimated 150,000 people, including 26 cardinals, 400 bishops and 3,000 to 4,000 priests, said spokesman Bishop Anthony Fisher.

"That will make it the biggest mass we've ever celebrated in Australia, the grandest mass in Australia," Fisher said ahead of the service.

The record will not last long, however, with 500,000 people expected to attend the closing World Youth Day mass on Sunday, led by Pope Benedict.
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2 Comments:

At 2:26 PM, Blogger Santiago Chiva, Granada said...

Young people know their limitations and contradictions, but when they come to listen during their holidays to an old man of 81 years that probably has not a special charisma, but they are persuaded by his insight, rigor and clarity. And young people want answers. So they are delighted that someone intends to improve them, someone who makes them want to be better people.

Regards

Santiago Chiva (Granada, Spain)
http://opinionciudadano.blogspot.com/

 
At 7:25 PM, Blogger Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. said...

So true. And, most likely they clearly sense the truth of the Holy Spirit speaking through him.

 

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