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Carrying the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of Our Lady on it's last leg at Victoria Park through Sydney University and TAFE University (14 July 2008) In July 2007, the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of our Lady arrived in Australia to begin a journey through each Australian Diocese. Originally the idea of Pope John Paul II, the 3.8m-high wooden Cross was built and placed as a symbol of the Catholic faith near the main altar in St Peter's Basilica during the Holy Year of 1983. At the end of that year, John Paul II gave this cross as a gift to the youth of the world, to be carried through the world as a symbol of Christ's love for humanity. Since then, the cross has travelled far and wide. It has been throughout Europe, the US, Canada, South America and The Philippines, to Poland and Prague, to the German Parliament and even to Ground Zero in New York. It has been carried from parish churches to youth detention centres, prisons, schools, universities, historic sites, shopping centres, nightclub districts and parks. On Palm Sunday in 2003, John Paul II introduced a new element for WYD: from then on, the cross would be accompanied on its pilgrimage by the Icon of Our Lady, Salus Populi Romani. The purpose of the Journey of the Cross and Icon is to proclaim the Good News of God's love in Christ to the young people of Australia and to prepare them for World Youth Day in 2008. Information: www.wyd2008.org.au

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