Pope prays during Last Supper staging

Published: July 18, 2008 at 8:41 AM

SYDNEY, July 18 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI attended a staging of the Stations of the Cross, which trace the last hours of Jesus, Friday during World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney.

The pontiff appeared at St. Mary's Cathedral as part of the re-enactment of the "Last Supper," the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. He began with a prayer.

"Lord many people lack the food and drink to bring true joy. They do not know or have forgotten how you wish to meet them at the Eucharist and share with them your humanity and divinity," Benedict said.

About 80 performers participated in the pageant at various Sydney landmarks as part of the World Youth Day celebrations.

A group of people tried to draw attention to the issue of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests was told it had to move from one location in Sydney's Hyde Park to another to accommodate security measures for the pilgrims.

On Saturday, the pope is to join a vigil of tens of thousands of Catholic youths who will sleep out at Randwick racecourse, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Up to 500,000 people are expected to attend the Sunday mass celebrated by Pope Benedict, the Herald reported.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Palin book tour travels to Pa., N.Y.
Spanish farmers march on capital
COL FB: Utah 38, San Diego State 7
Westwood wins in Dubai
COL FB: Northwestern 33, Wisconsin 31
COL FB: California 34, Stanford 28
COL FB: Nebraska 17, Kansas State 3
fark
Ahmadinejad in Tehran has a plot / But the US and Israelis think not / So they'll ready their planes...
Be glad for the tryptophan in the turkey on Thanksgiving. It blocks the 9 aphrodisacs from turning...
Las Vegas passes law requiring all dogs and cats be sterilized. You bet your dog wants a bus ticket....
Brits up in arms over proposal to have their national health system provide counseling to couples...
46 years ago today, a single man killed JFK
Tween pop star holds concert in mall. A twangle of tweens riot before show begins. Police arrest...