” “One of the most at ease on the boat, Merym Rayner, from the Australian Military Navy. In her regulation uniform, she tells to SIR that she spoke to Benedict XVI of the presence of military pilgrims in this WYD: "he seemed curious to know what role the armed force are playing in the WYD and what we are experiencing over these days but at the same time he asked information about Sydney Bay since I am a sailor. It was really fantastic and exciting”. “It sounds incredible!”, enthuses Kris Dmytrenko, a 28-year-old Canadian, one of two delegates of the American continent next to Benedict XVI. “We see the Pope on the papers and on TV, and one may think he’s not a real person. Instead all of a sudden he’s there in front of you and you find out that…he’s real. He’s very affectionate; he’s that type of person who makes you feel he really cares”. With the Pope, Kris spoke of the recent Eucharistic congress in Quebec, and thanked him for the message he sent on that occasion. "I saw happiness on his face for that meeting with the young", adds the Canadian boy about the WYD, wishing "the population of Sydney will go out of their homes and meet the young, take part in this event of faith, joy and hope, to see God and Jesus in a new light”.
