Employees of the Taronga zoo brought the pope some small species present only in Australia. The catechesis for young people centred on the "Call to life in the Holy Spirit". During the afternoon and evening, the 150 performances of the Youth Festival.

Sydney (AsiaNews) - This afternoon, Benedict XVI moved to the Cathedral House of Sydney, where he will stay until the end of WYD, on July 21.  Over the last few days, the pope was the guest of the Kenthurst Study Center, a retreat house owned by Opus Dei, about 40 kilometres from the city.  At the study centre, the pope this morning received a "special visit": employees of the Taronga zoo brought him some native animals of Australia - a koala, a wallaby (a small marsupial similar to a kangaroo), a python, a lizard, a baby crocodile and an echidna.  In recent days, the pope sent a message to the Australian people and to the young people of WYD, emphasising the increasing concern of young people toward the environment and the protection of creation.

This morning, there were also catecheses in various languages: the young people, subdivided into large groups, listened to reflections from the bishops present at WYD.  Today's catechesis is on the theme "Called to life in the Holy Spirit".  The one in Italian was given by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops' conference.  This afternoon, the more than 150 performances of the Youth Festival begin.  In some areas of the city there are dances, projections, performances, combining traditional elements: Samoan and Polynesian dances in Hyde Park, and rap concerts at the Royal Hall of Industries.

Photo: WYD08

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