Pope Benedict XVI waves as he departs an appreciation ceremony for World Youth Day volunteers in Sydney, Australia, July 21. Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher, the coordinator of World Youth Day, is at right. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Sydney, Australia — World Youth Day drew to a close here this weekend with the same spirit of celebration as when it began five days ago, with a pilgrimage walk through Sydney to Randwick Racecourse for an evening vigil, a sleepout under the stars, and a closing Mass attended by half a million pilgrims and celebrated by Pope Benedict.

Almost 250,000 pilgrims, including the more than 100 traveling with the Diocese of Rockville Centre, trekked several miles to Randwick Racecourse for a candlelight vigil with Pope Benedict July 19.

“Tonight, I am praying for you and for young people throughout the world,” said Pope Benedict. “Be inspired by the example of your patrons. Accept into your hearts and minds the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit. Recognize and believe in the power of the Spirit in your lives.”

As with most events throughout the week, the night included eucharistic adoration, the opportunity for confession, prayer, and lots of song and dance. Pope Benedict led 500,000 pilgrims in the celebration of Mass the morning of July 20, after which he announced that the next World Youth Day will take place in Madrid, Spain in 2011.
“The number of people there was unimaginable,” said Erin MacBride, 17, of Curé of Ars Church in Merrick. “At one point (during the vigil), they gave out candles. We were close to the front, and when I turned back, it was a sea of flames. It was totally amazing.”

“Adoration was my favorite part of the vigil,” noted Tom Schaefer, 18, of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Lindenhurst, “because there were half a million people adoring Jesus Christ. It was a great witness to our faith.”

He added that during the sleepout, “it was cold, but as long as I stayed in my sleeping bag, it was okay. And when I got too cold, I just offered it up.”

The diocesan pilgrims changed their location after the sleepout but before the closing Mass, were prevented from leaving the racecourse by security guards. They soon found out why. “The pope went right by us in his popemobile, about a mile a minute,” said Nick Gubelli, 23, of St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin, adding that it completely made up for how quickly Pope Benedict passed by their group after his opening address July 17. “If that’s not divine intervention, I don’t know what is.”

“We saw the pope! We saw the pope!” sang Erin, still excited hours after World Youth Day had officially ended. “He was so close, you don’t even understand! The next (World Youth Day) is in Madrid and I am totally going!”

For slideshows from WYD events please click here