Cologne, Germany, Aug 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Elated Australians joined their equally excited Cardinal Sunday, as Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the much-speculated reports that Sydney had indeed been chosen as the site for the 2008 World Youth Day.
The Holy Father made the announcement, according to the tradition, at the closing Mass for this year’s World Youth Day celebration in Cologne, Germany--attended by almost 1 million young Catholics.
Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, was quoted in the Australian saying that only the “scrooges” would be complaining about the Pope’s visit--the first papal visit to Australia in 13 years--and called it an “enormous privilege.”
According to the Australian, Cardinal Pell boasted over what he called “a coherent and well-prepared bid” which had “tremendous help from the federal and state governments."