(From our correspondents in Sydney) "A tsunami of faith": that’s how the Most. Rev. Anthony Fisher, auxiliary bishop of Sydney and WYD coordinator, defined the final mass of WYD. The bishop was speaking at a press conference today. According to Fisher, "over 400,000 pilgrims were present at the event, not counting those who followed the liturgy on the large screens set up in neighbouring Centennial Park. This city the bishop continued has thrown its homes, its hearts and its arms open to the Pope, to the youth of the whole world and to the leaders of the Church, demonstrating that the Australians are a people far more spiritual than they seem". This is also clear "from the enthusiasm that the city expressed over the last few days". Looking to the future, the bishop said that "the effect of WYD has already begun". He also recalled "the 130,000 Australians who will return home full of enthusiasm for having been able to share this experience". "This he said is undoubtedly a new life and a new energy for our Church and I am sure that thanks to WYD our youth pastoral mission will be better than it was before". The bishop announced in this regard that in November a conference of bishops would be held in Australia to discuss the guidelines to be adopted for this sector in future.
