Cardinal Pell’s home to host Pope for World Youth Day

Sydney, Australia, Feb 28, 2008 / 02:08 am

During his July Australian visit for World Youth Day 2008, Pope Benedict XVI will stay in the residence of Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, The Age reports.

The cardinal’s residence is next to St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Some details of Pope Benedict’s stay in Sydney were announced on Wednesday by New South Wales Deputy Premier John Watkins.

During his four-day visit, the Pope will likely visit other sites around Sydney such as the Opera House, Centennial Park, the Sydney open space called the Domain, and the Barangaroo site in East Darling Harbor.

A spokesman for World Youth Day said the Pope was expected to arrive at Barangaroo by boat for his official welcome.   However, the spokesman also said the programs and arrangement for the event would not be finalized until shortly before the week-long event.

Pope Benedict will celebrate a closing Mass on July 20 for an anticipated 500,000 pilgrims at Randwick Racecourse.