On the move

On Friday of this past week, the Vatican Press Office published the itinerary of the Holy Father's apostolic journey to Australia. A number of months ago, the plan to attend the 23rd World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney were confirmed, but the details of his travels have only now been made public.

Besides attending the official welcoming ceremonies on Thursday, July 17, during which he will meet more than 250,000 youth who will be on the shores of Darling Harbour in Sydney, and the overnight vigil which will take place at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday evening, he will preside at the closing liturgy which will take place at Randwick on Sunday morning, July 20.

In addition to his activities with young people, the Holy Father will benefit from his visit to Oceania to pay courtesy visits to the Governor General of Australia and to meet with representatives of other religious traditions in Sydney. He will also visit with bishops, priests and seminarians and novices from various dioceses throughout Australia.

The details of his visit in Australia are in some ways similar to his recent visit to Washington, DC and New York, when he paid visits to various representatives of other religious traditions as well as seminarians, priests, bishops and civil authorities. In truth, the pastoral visit to Australia is a continuation of the pontiff's pastoral responsibility to care for all the souls who are united in faith. Benedict XVI is continuing the commitment begun by his predecessor John Paul II toward the promotion of World Youth Day, a special international gathering of youth, but is also taking advantage of these voyages to visit with others and to build relationships with representatives of other Christian and non-Christian traditions.