Archbishop of Sydney

His Eminence,
Cardinal George Pell
Cardinal Priest of the Title of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello

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Meeting with Volunteers

The Domain

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
21/7/2008

MOST HOLY FATHER:

At the conclusion of these days of grace, I am filled with gratitude. The words of the Apostle Paul written to the young Timothy describe what you have done here this past week: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4:17). In our city, you have preached to the nations in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord stand by you always, that you might proclaim His message fully.

At this, our last meeting together, I am honoured to present to you our volunteers and World Youth Day ambassadors. Many of them have made heroic sacrifices to contribute to the success of World Youth Day. All of them have given of their talents and time because they shared our hope and prayer that in these days the finger of God would write a new chapter in the history of Australia. I salute them and congratulate them, and pray that the Lord may reward them for their generosity.

Your Holiness, I repeat again the gratitude of all Australian Catholics, and indeed all Australians, for your presence here. Long after you depart, we shall be studying your words and reflecting in our hearts upon all that you did here to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ.

As you will soon depart our country, we pray that Our Lady of the Southern Cross will guide you safely through the skies back to Rome.

In your message to us before you arrived, you quoted Saint Augustine: “If you wish to remain young, seek Christ.” Your Holiness, in fifty-seven years as a priest and more than eight decades as a Christian disciple, you have sought friendship with Jesus Christ. You have sought Christ, you have found Him, and you have remained young! We too hope to remain young in the Spirit. We will see you in Madrid!

(I invite all present now to join me in reciting the World Youth Day prayer, after which I invite the Holy Father to speak to us again.)