G’day Holy Father

Pope officially arrives in Sydney and gives a personal welcome to British pilgrims

Up to 500,000 people thronged the streets and waterways of Sydney to officially welcome the Holy Father to Australia. In his opening speech at the welcoming celebration in Barangaroo, East Darling Habour, Pope Benedict XVI gave a special welcome to the pilgrims from England and Wales, recognising the distinct role that the British, particularly its religious brothers and sisters had played in the history of Australia over recent centuries.

“Today, we think of those pioneering priests, sisters and brothers who came to these shores, and to other parts of the Pacific, from Ireland, France, Britain and elsewhere in Europe. The great majority were young – some still in their late teens – and when they bade farewell to their parents, brothers and sisters, and friends, they knew they were unlikely ever to return home. Their whole lives were a selfless Christian witness. They became the humble but tenacious builders of so much of the social and spiritual heritage which still today brings goodness, compassion and purpose to these nations. And they went to inspire another generation.”

The British pilgrims couldn’t contain their excitement about seeing the Holy Father:
"When a few voices exclaimed - "It's the Pope!" - I think that it was only at that point that I realised just how much I was looking forward to seeing him,” said Rebecca Coyne from Wales. “I stood up, like thousands of others, and saw his image broadcast on the large screens in front of us. I was amazed that I was actually looking at the smiling face of Pope Benedict XVI! After he arrived, he spoke to us all, he laughed, joked and blessed us. I'm glad that I saw him in the flesh because now he is a real person to me."

Speaking before the opening celebration, David Smeeth-Cardy from East Anglia said that meeting Popes’ was a family tradition: “My aunt once received Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II. Other members of my family have also met him. I don’t think that I’ll get that close (to Pope Benedict XVI), but it will be inspiring to hear him speak.”

Ends

Notes:

Video footage of the British pilgrims’ reaction to the Pope’s arrival can be found here:

Click on this link or paste it into your browser's address bar to download the file (20 Mb). Larger file sizes also available.
https://www.box.net/shared/static/wsstzohk44.mp4

Note that the video material and photographs can be used freely but please attribute to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

For higher resolution images (300dpi), please contact the Catholic Communications Network (CCN):
ccn@cbcew.org.uk

UK Media enquiries about World Youth Day and about the English and Welsh pilgrimage to WYD can be directed to:
In Australia - 00 61 448083521
In UK - Catholic Communications Network:
e: ccn@cbcew.org.uk
t: 020 7901 4800

Professional video and photographic material from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales will be available to download during the key World Youth Day events. Pilgrim video/audio and photographic material from English and Welsh pilgrims will also be available to download.

For professional photos and video, log onto the following FTP site:
https://www.box.net/shared/kn3iq544k4
Password: wyd08

For pilgrims’ eye view amateur photos, video and audio:
https://www.box.net/shared/75kqdwk084
Password: wyd08

Please inform the CCN about how you intend to use the material generated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales - ccn@cbcew.org.uk. Please also provide a link to the World Youth Day portal of the Catholic Church in England and Wales’ website -http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/ccb/catholic_church/events/world_youth_day alongside any CBCEW material used. All rights to the material remain with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. There is no cost for using content downloaded from the CBCEW FTP site although we would like to remind users that we are a charity and that all donations would be gratefully received.

Check out the British pilgrims updates:
http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/index.php/ccb/catholic_church/events/world_youth_day/info_for_uk_media/pilgrim_s_updates