Sydney, Australia, Oct 26, 2007 / 08:48 am
Pope Benedict XVI's call for a New Pentecost at World Youth Day was featured in remarks made by Bishop Julian Porteous, auxiliary bishop of Sydney, The Catholic Weekly reports.
Bishop Porteous spoke in a homily at a Mass marking the visit of a delegation from the Pontifical Council on the Laity.
Echoing Pope Benedict, he exhorted event planners to take to heart the theme of World Youth Day, the Bible verse Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses."
"The Pope wants us to focus particularly on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives," the bishop said. "He wants WYD to be a 'New Pentecost' for Australia."
Bishop Porteous cited Pope Benedict XVI's speech on July 4.
"World Youth Day is much more than an event. It is a time of deep spiritual renewal, the fruits of which benefit the whole of society," the Pope said. "Together we shall invoke the Holy Spirit, confidently asking God for the gift of a New Pentecost for the Church and for humanity in the third millennium."
Bishop Porteous expressed his great hope for World Youth Day. "All the signs are there for a wonderful event," he said.