World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney Australia

More than 5,000 youths from the Philippines are expected to join the July 15, 2008, World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney, Australia.

According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Episcopal Commission on Youth, the young Filipinos will join more than half a million youths and 180 groups from all over the world.

Archdiocese of Sydney is already preparing for the arrival of Filipino pilgrims and clergy, with a scheduled meeting with Maria Theresa Lazaro, Philippine Consul General and Fr. Menardo Mercene, the Filipino chaplain of the archdiocese.

World Youth Day 2008 is the Catholic youth festival that will be held on July 15 to 20 , 2008 in Sydney, Australia at major Sydney CBD locations, which will include a visit by Pope Benedict XVI. The occasion will mark only the fourth Papal visit to the country, and was commended by the Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.

The theme of World Youth Day 2008 will be "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8) According to Australian news reports, the bishops of Australia had originally suggested a different theme, but Pope Benedict wanted a theme emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit.

The theme song is Receive the Power, which was written by Guy Sebastian and Gary Pinto, and performed by Guy Sebastian and Paulini.