Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

S

|
|
 
  
Published: July 17, 2008 at 11:35 PM

SYDNEY, July 17 (UPI) -- About half a million people greeted Pope Benedict XVI in Australia's biggest city at his first public appearance for World Youth Day.

The pontiff crossed Sydney Harbor accompanied by a flotilla of vessels before disembarking to address the throng of pilgrims on the shore in the Barangaroo neighborhood.

In his speech, Benedict called on young people to work to preserve both the natural environment and the social environment, Catholic World News reported. He said they will learn that life offers more than new experience and personal gratification.

"Christ offers more!" he said. "Indeed he offers everything!"

The pope paid tribute to Australia's aboriginal inhabitants, to the government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for apologizing for the country's treatment of the Aborigines and to the beauty of Sydney Harbor and its landmarks like the Opera House and Harbor Bridge.

Benedict arrived in Australia Sunday and spent several days in rest and reflection at a religious house near Sydney.

Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Syrians Protest Against the President Bashar al-Assad
View Caption
fark
Chocolate cake for breakfast is OK say scientists, Cosby
We don't need no stinking perfume: New Hampshire considers ban on fragrance in the workplace to...
Meet Jack Kevorkian's successor, Lawrence Egbert
Photoshop this spherical trio
Arab League wants peacekeepers in Syria. D'Argo and Chiana still think it's a bad idea
Pharmaceutical companies have slowed or halted production of children's leukemia drug due to high...