"It is an honour for the Australian Church". With these words, that appeared on the web site of the Bishops Conference, the president of the Australian bishops and the Archbishop Francis Carroll welcomed the news of Sydney being the venue for the next WYD in 2008, announced today by Benedict XVI. "I am sure said the archbishop that this event will be welcomed by all the Catholics of our Country and by the Catholics of the Asian and Pacific region. Wherever this event has been hosted it has had a deep and lasting influence on the life of the participants and on the Church. We shall pray so that Australia may make the most of this renewed flourishing of the spirit and so that the pilgrimage to Sydney in 2008 may be an unforgettable event".
