Pope urges young people to respect life by safeguarding all creation

Published: 2008-07-17

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- Wonder and awe, tradition and novelty were combined July 17 as Pope Benedict XVI shared a 45-minute boat ride through Sydney Harbor, chatting with a handful of young people before formally addressing thousands of them. As the pope's boat left Rose Bay, he briefly sat in the wooden throne placed on the bow. But soon the young people introduced to him crowded around and he stood with them at the railing, chatting and waving to people on shore and on boats escorting them to the welcoming ceremony. At Rose Bay, Aboriginal elders greeted the pope, gave him gifts and, dancing, led him to the water's edge. Once the pope's boat reached the old dockyard at Barangaroo, a young Aborigine greeted the pope with a hug, and the pope stood with a broad smile on his face as young indigenous danced for him. The Book of the Gospels was carried forward on a wooden boat and was adorned with a lei as the deacon received it. In his address to the estimated 150,000 young people at Barangaroo, the pope said respect for creation means protecting and perfecting the person just as much as it means safeguarding the world's natural resources.

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