Sydney, Australia, Jul 13, 2008 / 08:20 am
As Pope Benedict XVI landed in Sydney on Sunday, the youth who are eagerly awaiting World Youth Day, received a message from the Pope. In his remarks to the young pilgrims, the Holy Father prayed that they will be filled with joy, find rest in the Lord and fervent about sharing the Gospel with all.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI landed in Sydney at 3p.m. local time on Sunday, joining over 100,000 international pilgrims participating in the World Youth Day 2008 celebrations held in Australia.
The Papal flight was the longest of the Pope’s life, with the Alitalia flight AZ4000 from Rome travelling for 19 hours and 45 minutes over 10,200 miles (16, 400 kilometers), with only a brief stopover in Darwin for the aircraft to refuel and pick up Darwin’s Bishop Eugene Hurley.
Pope Benedict was greeted at the Royal Australian Air Force base on Sydney’s northwest side, by the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, alongside several other political leaders and bishops of the Australian Catholic Church.