(From our correspondents in Sydney) – “I spoke about my country, placing emphasis on the young. I asked him to bless my people. He answered he knows India well, that he will pray for my country and for its young people”. Ruveena Robert is one of the 16 lucky young people who had the opportunity today to speak personally with Benedict XVI during the voyage in Sydney Bay, while the Sydney 2000 boat took the Pope to Barangaroo for the welcome ceremony. "We had a short conversation and spoken of the problems of my generation in India says the Indian girl to SIR and he said the youth do have values. He asked me who I was with and I answered that we are with our bishops. He was very glad to be with us; it was him who told me to go closer and talk to him, it was fantastic. Finally he also expressed the wish to visit my country”. Rodha Tiga, an African girl, is also very excited: as he saw me, he asked me from what part of Africa I came from and I said from Sudan. I asked him to pray for my country and he answered that he will keep doing it, for Sudan and for its young people. I also asked him to visit Sudan, and he answered that he hopes he will be able to. He smiled to me and greeted me as many as three times telling me to give his regards to Sudan. It was a fantastic hour”. (continued)
