Papal Tour by Sea and Land

Pope Benedict XVI's first public appearance at Sydney's World Youth Day took place on Thursday, July 17, 2008, local time, when he went by boat through Sydney Harbour before landing at The Hungry Mile to be officially welcomed to Sydney by Cardinal George Pell.

After the official welcome ceremonies, the Pope rode through the city in the Popemobile.

The Pope's day began with a motorcade to Government House in the morning where he was greeted on arrival by the Queen's representatives, Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery and New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir. The Pope was then officially welcomed to Australia by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

From there the Pope proceeded to North Sydney to pray at the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, followed by a drive through green-light corridors to Rose Bay to board a Papal flotilla.

The Pope was on board a 63-metre, three-storey cruise ship, accompanied by other watercraft, on a harbour route around Farm Cove and Circular Quay, under Sydney Harbour Bridge, and into Darling Harbour.

Leaving Rose Bay at 2.45pm, the Pope arrived at The Hungry Mile just after 3.30pm where he was formally welcomed to Sydney and Australia by Cardinal Pell before a crowd of tens of thousands of people.

Pope Benedict delivered a homily at the Barangaroo site. He then traveled in the Popemobile from The Hungry Mile through the streets of Sydney for some 45 minutes.

The Popemobile route took in Hickson Rd, George St, Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens before reaching St Mary's Cathedral, mother church of Australian Catholicism, just as nightfall started to blanket the city.

• World Youth Day Comes to Sydney

• Pope Arrives Early for World Youth Day
• Cardinal Pell Celebrates Opening Mass
• World Youth Day Reenacts Christ's Passion and Death
• Thousands Join Pilgrimage Walk
• Papal Mass Is World Youth Day Climax

Photo: Pope Benedict XVI at Barangaroo © WYD 2008