G'day Papa!

After watching the Holy Father make his first official appearance at World Youth Day, I must say that having sang "Happy Birthday" to him while he was in the U.S. for his 81st birthday, our Papa is looking quite young. He seemed to be genuinely excited to be so near his children; he was all smiles and even had a noticeable spring in his step.



Upon arriving via boat (the Sydney 2000) at Darling Harbour, Pope Benedict XVI, made his way to the Barangaroo where--hopefully--Angela, Edmund, and Raj were able to give him a proper welcoming. Remember, if you missed the Papal Welcoming, you can go here to watch it at your convenience.



The Holy Father gave a smashing homily. In fact, I began to take notes, but every other sentence was really good...so I gave up...and have just decided to let you read it here in its entirety. What struck me was the imagery that the Holy Father used. I have rarely seen Pope Benedict use such poetic and sensual language. It's almost as if he is using the earth itself as a parable.

"For some of us, it might seem like we have come to the end of the world! For people of your age, however, any flight is an exciting prospect. But for me, this one was somewhat daunting! Yet the views afforded of our planet from the air were truly wondrous. The sparkle of the Mediterranean, the grandeur of the north African desert, the lushness of Asia’s forestation, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, the horizon upon which the sun rose and set, and the majestic splendour of Australia’s natural beauty which I have been able to enjoy these last couple of days; these all evoke a profound sense of awe. It is as though one catches glimpses of the Genesis creation story - light and darkness, the sun and the moon, the waters, the earth, and living creatures; all of which are 'good' in God’s eyes (cf. Gen 1:1 - 2:4). Immersed in such beauty, who could not echo the words of the Psalmist in praise of the Creator: 'how majestic is your name in all the earth?' (Ps 8:1). And there is more – something hardly perceivable from the sky – men and women, made in nothing less than God’s own image and likeness (cf. Gen 1:26). At the heart of the marvel of creation are you and I, the human family 'crowned with glory and honour' (Ps 8:5). How astounding! With the Psalmist we whisper: 'what is man that you are mindful of him?' (Ps 8:4). And drawn into silence, into a spirit of thanksgiving, into the power of holiness, we ponder."

Additionally, I noticed how paternal our Holy Father is. One got a sense that he truly looked out on that sea of youth and saw his children. While the young pilgrims were all gathered in Barangaroo, I imagine that our Papa--knowing all the dangers that would lead such lambs away from God--wanted to protect us...as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings (cf. Mt 23:37). Like any parent, he can't be there to always keep us safe, so, instead, he uses his words to warn, urge, teach, and implore us. And hope we listen.

"Dear friends, life is not governed by chance; it is not random. Your very existence has been willed by God, blessed and given a purpose (cf. Gen 1:28)! Life is not just a succession of events or experiences, helpful though many of them are. It is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth. Christ offers more! Indeed he offers everything! Only he who is the Truth can be the Way and hence also the Life. Thus the 'way' which the Apostles brought to the ends of the earth is life in Christ. This is the life of the Church."

Check out Fr. Z's blog for more pics.