The Cross and the Icon of the Virgin, the symbols of the World Youth Day, arrived in Australia yesterday, welcomed, during a ceremony at Sidney airport, by the Prime Minister John Howard, by the Prime Minister of the New South Wales Morris Iemma, and by thousands of young people. This marked the start of the 12 months’ pilgrimage that will stop in over 400 Australian communities. "The Cross and the Icon have travelled on the shoulders of young people all over the world for over twenty years, carrying a message of hope, peace and Christ’s love for mankind. Now these symbols will travel through our country, touching the lives of many young Australians", stated the archbishop of Adelaide, mgr. Philip Wilson, president of the Australian Bishops Conference. On his part, mgr. Anthony Fisher, the bishops who coordinates the WYD08, recalled that, "like the Olympic blowtorch, but far holier and more meaningful, these symbols herald the arrival of the WYD in Australia next year". During the ceremony for the arrival of the Cross and the Icon, the anthem of the WYD08, "Receive the Power", was performed for the very first time by Guy Sebastian and Paulini. The pilgrimage of the WYD Cross and Icon can be followed at www.wyd2008.org. For the XXIII WYD in Sydney (15-20 July 2008), Benedict XVI will visit Australia for the first time.
