Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Sydney for a week-long celebration of religion and youth.
The 81-year-old head of the Catholic church is to spend three days recovering from the journey Down Under in a retreat in North West Sydney, before being officially welcomed to the city at a ceremony on Thursday.
In what will be the lengthiest trip of his pontificate - his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, visited in 1986 and 1995 - the Pope will attend World Youth Day, a Catholic global youth rally inaugurated by John Paul II in 1984. Billed as "the Catholic Woodstock", the celebrations, which last a week and are expected to draw crowds of over 500,000, include performances by rap, rock and jazz artists.
As well as leading an open-air Sunday mass at the festival - held at Sydney's main horse-racing track of Randwick - the pontiff will see the sights of the city on a boat trip around Sydney harbour and with a helicopter ride.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
