150,000 Attend World Youth Day Opener

An estimated 150,000 young Roman Catholics gathered Tuesday near Sydney to attend the opening mass and ceremonies for World Youth Day, church officials say.

The scene of the celebration was a beach-side suburb of Barangaroo, a former industrial harbor that had been transformed into a festive place of worship as thousands of pilgrims chanted, sang and danced to kick off the six-day festival, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took the stage at the start of the service, presided over by Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, to welcome the visitors in English, German, Italian and French.

G’day, and have a great time Down Under, Rudd said. Australia welcomes the youth of the world to Sydney. Australia welcomes the youth of the world to this celebration of faith and this celebration of life.

Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in a video message to World Youth Day pilgrims shortly before the start of the event, said he looked forward to the World Youth Day events as a chance for prayer and reflection with young people from around the world. Benedict called Australia the great southern land of the Holy Spirit.