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Pope Benedict XVI thanks volunteers and leaves Australia happy and blessed
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI thanked 8,000 World Youth Day volunteers and attended a special farewell ceremony at Sydney International Airport before departing Australia for Rome today.
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World Youth Day Videos
 Come Holy Ghost - Enkindle 04:03 |
 World Youth Day Final Mass 2005 05:11 |
 Albion St Blessing 04:29 |
 Papal World Youth Day 2008 Message 04:57 |
Program of Events
Tuesday, July 15
Ambassadors
Nine prominent Australians have generously volunteered their public profile and time as official Ambassadors for WYD08.
Ten inspirational saints and blesseds have been named the official patrons for World Youth Day 2008. A tradition of each World Youth Day, the 10 patrons have been chosen by the organisers and approved by the Vatican. An Australian artist, Richard de Stoop was commissioned to recreate their images.
Tuesday, July 15
- 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Opening Mass with Cardinal Pell
Barangaroo - 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Youth Festival (except during Opening Mass)
Sydney CBD locations
- 9:00am - 12:00pm OR 10:00am - 1:00pm
Catechesis sessions
250+ locations across Sydney - 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Youth Festival (various events)
Sydney CBD locations
- 8:15am
Media conference with Danny Casey, WYD08 Chief Operating Officer
Hyde Park, opposite St Mary's Cathedral - 8:30am
Media operational briefing
Media Briefing Room, IMC - 9:00 or 10:00am
Catechesis Sessions
Thousands of pilgrims attend 235 Catechesis teaching sessions in 29 different languages sessions sharing and learning about faith and life - 9:45am
Papal visit to Mary MacKillop Place
The Holy Father will visit the shrine of Mary MacKillop - 2:45pm
Papal Boat-a-cade
The Pope will depart Rose Bay and cruise iconic Sydney Harbour making his way to Barangaroo and awaiting pilgrims - 3:30pm
Papal welcome at Barangaroo
Sydney officially welcomes Pope Benedict XVI - 4:45pm
Papal Motorcade
Departs Barangaroo and weaves through the city past the Sydney Opera House, the Domain and the Royal Botanical Gardens to St Mary.s Cathedral House - 6:00pm
World Youth 4 Justice concert at Barangaroo
Presented by the St Vincent de Paul Society, featuring Australian artists DIESEL, Vanessa Amorosi, Rick Price and The McClymonts. - 7:30pm
Country and Saltwater Voices Indigenous Concert at The Domain
The World Youth Day Outdoor Concert Series presents Nura Badu: featuring Jimmy Little, Casey Donovan, Baiwa Dancers and Shellie Morris
- 9:00am - 12:00pm OR 10:00am - 1:00pm
Catechesis sessions
250+ locations across Sydney - 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Stations of the Cross
St Mary's Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Domain - 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Youth Festival (except during Stations of the Cross)
Sydney CBD locations
- 5:30am
Pilgrimage Walk
Sydney Harbour Bridge through city to Southern Cross Precinct - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Evening Vigil with the Pope
Southern Cross Precinct
- 9:00am
Papal flyover and motorcade through Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park
Southern Cross Precinct - 10:00am
Final Mass with the Pope @ the Southern Cross Precinct
The Pope will preach at this high point of celebration for what promises to be the largest gathering of people in the history of Australia. 24 people will be confirmed by the Pope, including 14 lucky Australians - 12:15pm
Announcement of next host city
After the Final Mass, the Holy Father will officially announce the next World Youth Day host city - 12:30pm - 5:45pm
WYD08 Outdoor Concert Series
Festivities will continue after the Final Mass with the Outdoor Concert Series at Randwick. It will feature the Wangatunga Strong Women.s Choir and Celtic Spring with Fr Stan Fortuna making an appearance at 3pm.
- 7:00am
Pope's private Mass in the Cathedral House - 8:00 - 9:30am
Volunteer thank you party with the Pope
WYD08 Ambassadors on stage Ray Martin to MC - 9:30am
Farewell ceremony for the Pope
Sydney airport - 10:00am
Pope departs Sydney airport on a Qantas flight - 10:00am - 3:00pm
French Parisian Gathering
Holy Cross Church Bondi Junction - 12:00 - 7:00pm
20,000 expected for the Neo-Catechumenal Way celebration
The Domain - 1:50pm
Pope's arrival at Darwin airport for technical stop-over - 11:00pm
Pope arrives in Rome
Rome Time
Ambassadors
Nine prominent Australians have generously volunteered their public profile and time as official Ambassadors for WYD08.
- Carla Zampatti, Fashion Designer
- Jared Crouch, AFL Sydney Swans player
- The Delezio family . Ron, Carolyn, Sophie and Mitchell
- Matthew Hayden, Australian cricketer
- Amelia Farrugia, Opera Singer
- Mark Bresciano, Socceroo Player
- Stephen Moore, Wallabies Hooker
- Jimmy Little, Musician
- Dr John Herron, Former Ambassador to the Holy See and Ireland, and Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs
Ten inspirational saints and blesseds have been named the official patrons for World Youth Day 2008. A tradition of each World Youth Day, the 10 patrons have been chosen by the organisers and approved by the Vatican. An Australian artist, Richard de Stoop was commissioned to recreate their images.
- Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901 - 1925)
- Blessed Mary MacKillop (1842 - 1909)
- Saint Peter Chanel (1803 - 1841)
- Blessed Peter To Rot (1912 - 1945)
- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910 - 1997)
- Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873 - 1897)
- Saint Maria Goretti (1890 - 1902)
- Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905 - 1938)
- Servant of God, John Paul II (1920 - 2005)
