More than 200,000 young Catholics in Sydney for World Youth Day, July 15-20, held 250 pray ceremonies in parks and streets around the city and attended music concerts, as they eagerly awaited the first appearance of Pope Benedict on Thursday.
The Pope, who has been resting since arriving in Sydney on Sunday, held morning mass in his retreat and was then introduced to an array of Australian animals.
After a brief description of each animal and its habitat the pontiff patted the animals: a baby kangaroo called a joey, a koala, an echidna, a carpet python, a blue tongue lizard, a frill-neck lizard and a tiny crocodile.
World Youth Day was the brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II who thought a festival which included not only masses and religious events like the stations of the cross, but also music and dance concerts would revitalise the world's Catholic youth.
After 150,000 pilgrims attended WYD's opening mass and late night rock concert on the shores of Sydney Harbour on Tuesday, thousands spread out across Sydney on Wednesday to not only to pray but to continue partying.
"I went to bed late last night and didn't eat enough breakfast," said Australian pilgrim Sam Merryfull, 17, as he rested on a wooden bench. A nun gave him fruit and water.
"The opening mass was great, so many cultures coming together," Merryfull told local media.
More than 165 outdoor concerts will be staged, from religious music to heavy metal, acid jazz and rap.
Some 3,000 pilgrims gathered at Bondi Beach on Wednesday for the "Come to the Water" concert organised by the Franciscans, with the headline act rapping priest Father Stan Fortuna.
