Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his popemobile at Barangaroo, July 17.
World Youth Day Sydney 2008 Report by Anna Weaver
Close-up with arriving pope
SYDNEY
Hawaii pilgrims had a close encounter with Pope Benedict XVI when he passed within feet of them in his popemobile during his arrival at Barangaroo alongside Sydney Harbor on Thursday, July 17.
Many group members had thought that their assigned spot, far to the left of the altar, wouldn’t allow them a view of the pope. But God provided when the lead boat in the 11-vessel Papal Boat-a-cade, the Captain Cook Cruises boat “Sydney 2000” carrying the pope and 530 others, pulled up to the dock just in front of the Hawaii group.
Straining to see over the crowds, the pilgrims stood on tiptoe and snapped photos of Pope Benedict at the front of the boat.
Then Holy Trinity, Kuliouou, pastor Father Gary Secor spotted the popemobile at the dock near the Hawaii group and thought the group might get lucky. He was right.
Pope Benedict disembarked and got into his specially-modified Mercedes Benz vehicle and drove right toward where many of the Hawaii group were standing or sitting on shoulders next to a barricade. They were some of the first pilgrims to wave at and photograph the pontiff as he headed to the Barangaroo altar to hear welcoming speeches, lead a prayer service and deliver his first message to all World Youth Day pilgrims.
The awe and excitement remained with many of the islanders long after the pope had continued onto the altar.
St. Michael pilgrim Nick Pascual said he’d waited 37 years to see a pope in person. He greeted Pope Benedict with his son, Derin, 7, on his shoulders.
Derin, one of the youngest in the Diocese of Honolulu’s group, nodded his head when asked if he was excited to see Benedict and said the pope looked different than he thought.
Benedictine Sister Celeste “CC” Cabral, traveling with the St. Michael, Waialua, group, said, “That one moment made this whole trip worth it.”
In addition to the pilgrims at Barangaroo, the Domain and other Sydney locations, Sydney residents stood on apartment balconies and rooftops overlooking the harborside location and lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the pontiff.
But the Hawaii pilgrims couldn’t have been happier with their own close-up of “Papa,” as the crowds affectionately called him in cheers throughout the week.