For photos of the Pope's stay at Kenthurst, click here.
After traveling more than 8,000 miles in a 16 hour flight the Pope is resting for a few days at a private retreat, Kenthurst Study Centre, where he will remain until 4:00 PM on Wednesday.
On the morning of Thursday, July 17, his visit will officially begin with a welcoming ceremony with the civil authorities of the country in the Government House in Sydney. There the Pope will give his first discourse.
Message to the Australian people and to the youth
Oh July 4, The Holy Father sent a message to the Australians as a preparation for his upcoming trip. Here are some of the principle ideas:
“How much our world needs a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit! There are still many who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, while many others, for whatever reason, have not recognized in this Good News the saving truth that alone can satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts.”
“Many young people today lack hope. They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ever more urgently in a confusing world, and they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions. They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another.”
“Where can we look for answers? The Spirit points us towards the way that leads to life, to love and to truth. The Spirit points us towards Jesus Christ. There is a saying attributed to Saint Augustine: “If you wish to remain young, seek Christ”. In him we find the answers that we are seeking, we find the goals that are truly worth living for, we find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better world.”
“My prayer is that the hearts of the young people who gather in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day will truly find rest in the Lord, and that they will be filled with joy and fervour for spreading the Good News among their friends, their families, and all whom they meet.”
World Youth Day
On the afternoon of Thursday, July 17, Pope will go to Rose Bay Wharf in Sydney to meet with some of the indigenous peoples of Australia who will receive him with traditional dances and songs.
Then he will board the ship Sydney 2000 and cross the bay to Barangaroo Wharf where he will be welcomed by thousands of young people.
On Friday, July 18th, he will take part in an ecumenical meeting in St. Mary’s Cathedral Crypt as well as a meeting with representatives of other religions in St. Mary’s Cathedral Chapter House.
The central part of the trip will be the prayer vigil and the Mass presided over by the Pope in the Randwick Racetrack on Saturday and Sunday. In attendance will be thousands of young people from all around the word who have come to Australia for the 23rd World Youth Day.
Below is the schedule for the Pope’ trip
Sunday, July 13 0915 Arrival at Darwin Airport/RAAF Military Air Base.
1030 Depart Darwin Airport/RAAF Military Air Base bound for Richmond Airport(Sydney)/RAAF Military Air Base.
Richmond (Sydney)
1500 Arrival at Richmond Airport (Sydney)/RAAF Military Air Base.
1515 Transfer by car from Richmond Airport (Sydney)/RAAF Military Air Base to Kenthurst Study Centre. Private time until Thursday morning, 17 July 2008.
Thursday, July 17
0730 Private Holy Mass in St Mary's Cathedral House Chapel, Sydney.
0900 Welcome Ceremony at Government House, Sydney. Speech by the Holy Father.
0930 Transfer by car from Government House to Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney.
0945 Prayer visit to Mary MacKillop Chapel, North Sydney.
1000 Transfer by car from Mary MacKillop Place to Admiralty House.
1005 Courtesy visit to the Governor General and meeting with the Prime Minister, Admiralty House.
1105 Transfer by car from Admiralty House to St Mary's Cathedral House.
1130 Arrival at St Mary's Cathedral House.
1420 Transfer from St Mary's Cathedral House to Rose Bay Wharf, Sydney for Indigenous Welcome.
1445 Board Sydney 2000 Vessel and depart for Barangaroo Wharf, East Darling Harbour.
1530 Arrival at Barangaroo Wharf, East Darling Harbour. Speech by the Holy Father.
1645 Transfer by Popemobile from Barangaroo, East Darling Harbour to St Mary's Cathedral House.
1730 Arrival at St Mary's Cathedral House.
Friday, July 18
0730 Private Holy Mass in St Mary's Cathedral House Chapel.
0930 Separate private meeting with the Governor of NSW, the Premier of NSW and the Mayor of Sydney and their families, at St Mary's Cathedral House Reception Hall.
1025 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral House to St Mary's Cathedral Crypt.
1030 Ecumenical meeting in St Mary's Cathedral Crypt. Speech by the Holy Father.
1115 Walk from the Crypt to St Mary's Cathedral Chapter House.
1120 Meeting with representatives of other faiths at St Mary's Cathedral Chapter House. Speech by the Holy Father.
1200 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral to St Mary's Cathedral House.
1230 Lunch with young people at St Mary's Cathedral House Reception Hall.
1455 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral House to St Mary's Cathedral.
1500 Prayer at the beginning of the Stations of the Cross, St Mary's Cathedral forecourt. The Holy Father prays at the end of the first station, then follows the other stations on television from St Mary's Cathedral Crypt.
1830 Transfer by car from St Mary's Cathedral to the University of Notre Dame Sacred Heart Church.
1845 Meeting with Disadvantaged Young People, at the University of Notre Dame, Sacred Heart Church. Speech by the Holy Father.
1945 Transfer by car from the University of Notre Dame Sacred Heart Church to St Mary's Cathedral House.
2000 Arrival at St Mary's Cathedral House.
Saturday, July 19
0900 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral House to St Mary's Cathedral.
0930 Holy Mass with Australian Bishops, seminarians and young religious, and the Consecration of the new Altar in St Mary's Cathedral. Homily by the Holy Father.
1130 Return to the Sacristy.
1145 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral to St Mary's Cathedral House.
1215 Lunch with Australian Bishops and the Papal Entourage at St Mary's Cathedral House Reception Hall.
1830 Transfer by car from St Mary's Cathedral House to Randwick Racecourse.
1900 Evening Vigil at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park). Speech by the Holy Father.
2100 Transfer by car from Randwick Racecourse to St Mary's Cathedral House.
2130 Arrival at St Mary's Cathedral House.
Sunday, July 20
0830 Transfer by car from St Mary's Cathedral House to Victoria Barracks heliport.
0845 Arrival at Victoria Barracks heliport, Sydney. Board the helicopter, fly over crowds gathered at Southern Cross Precinct.
0915 Transfer by Popemobile from Victoria Barracks heliport to Randwick Racecourse. Motorcade through Southern Cross Precinct.
0945 Arrival at the Sacristy in Randwick Racecourse.
1000 Final Mass for the XXIII World Youth Day at Southern Cross Precinct, Sydney. Homily by the Holy Father. Praying of the Angelus Domini at the conclusion, followed by the announcement of the next host city by the Holy Father.
1215 Return to the Sacristy.
1230 Transfer by car from Randwick Racecourse to St Mary's Cathedral House.
1300 Arrival at St Mary's Cathedral House. Lunch with the Papal Entourage.
1800 Meeting with the XXIII World Youth Day organisers and benefactors at St Mary's Cathedral House Reception Hall and Chapter Hall. Speech by the Holy Father.
1900 Walk from St Mary's Cathedral Chapter Hall to St Mary's Cathedral House.
Monday, July 21
0700 Private Holy Mass in St Mary's Cathedral House Chapel.
0835 Farewell from St Mary's Cathedral House.
0845 Transfer by Popemobile from St Mary Cathedral House to the Domain.
0850 Thank you event for World Youth Day volunteers in the Domain. Speech by the Holy Father.
0910 Transfer by car from the Domain to Sydney International Airport.
0930 Farewell Ceremony at Sydney International Airport.
1000 Flight departs Sydney International Airport bound for Darwin Airport.