‘Go forth to proclaim the Risen Lord’

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI thanks the pilgrims during the Final Mass at Southern Cross Precinct. (Photo by World Youth Day)

SYDNEY — With the joyous celebration of a Final Mass Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI inspired the youth of the world and brought WYD 2008 to a close with an exhoration for the young people to be “burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit.”

The Final Mass was held at the Randwick Racecourse, the site of the previous night’s vigil with the Holy Father. The pilgrims had slept outside at the racecourse during the night, bringing sleeping bags and blankets and pitching out on the ground. Some slept, while others prayed or took advantage of the all-night adoration and reconciliation tents set up on the grounds of the Southern Cross Precinct.

“It was cold, and our backs were sore,” said Lauren Zelinksi of St. Henry Parish, Watertown, “but celebrating Mass with the Holy Father made it all worth it.”

Her sentiments were echoed by many of the pilgrims, who were joyous for the Pope’s final words to the young people in Australia. In his homily, Pope Benedict remarked that the power of the Holy Spirit was evident in the past few days in Sydney.

“In this great assembly of young Christians from all over the world, we have had a vivid experience of the Spirit’s presence and power in the life of the Church,” Benedict said. “We have seen the Church for what she truly is: the Body of Christ.”

This power of the Church fills the life, remarked the Pope, but also flows within us. He then challenged all the young people: “Let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure?”

Benedict continued, “How are you using the gifts you have been given, the ‘power’ which the Holy Spirit is even now prepared to release within you? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?”

During the Mass, the Holy Father confirmed 24 young people from around the world, allowing them to experience in a real way the power of the Holy Spirit. This group included one American.

Spanish pilgrims celebrate after His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced that the 2011 World Youth Day is going to be held in Madrid, Spain during Final Mass at Southern Cross Precinct during World Youth Day Sydney 2008 on July 20, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by World Youth Day)

After the Mass was finished, Pope Benedict made the announcement of the next host city of World Youth Day: it will be held in Madrid, Spain, in 2011. The Spanish pilgrims actually ruined the Holy Father’s announcement: before he had finished his speech thanking the pilgrims and announcing the next host city, a group of young people from Spain ran out on the stage and starting waving their national flags and colors (they were quickly silenced by the papal MC’s).

The Holy Father then departed from the stadium, flying back to Rome on Monday, and bringing an end to World Youth Day 2008 — Sydney.