Cardinal Pell Celebrates World Youth Day Opening Mass

A variety of activities takes place today, July 15, 2008, local time, opening day of the six-day World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney.

The event of the day is the Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, this afternoon.

The Opening Mass takes place at The Hungry Mile in East Darling Harbour, north of King St Wharf, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Flags of the more than 170 nations with pilgrims attending World Youth Day in Sydney will be carried through the Mass crowd by members of the International Liturgy Group.

Young indigenous Catholics — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander — will welcome the pilgrims with a traditional performance.

Expected attendance at the Mass has been estimated at around 150,000.

With a number of Sydney city streets closed to vehicular traffic, those attending Mass are expected to walk to the site from train stations, particualrly those on the City Circle route with stops at Town Hall, Wynyard and Circular Quay.

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Photo: Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney (Brendon Thorpe / Getty Images)