World Youth Day pilgrims start walk

THE first of thousands of colourfully dressed young people have set off on a three-hour pilgrimage through Sydney to Randwick Racecourse, where Pope Benedict XVI will conduct the final mass of the Catholic World Youth Day celebrations tomorrow.

Throughout the day, pilgrims will walk the 9km from North Sydney, through central Sydney and the eastern suburbs to Royal Randwick.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed at 2am (AEST) for only the third time in its history while roads in the city centre and 25 suburbs have also been closed for the pilgrimage.
The Pope will participate in a vigil this evening with the pilgrims, which will include a candlelight ceremony.
Many of the pilgrims will sleep over at the racecourse tonight ahead of tomorrow's final papal mass, which at least 300,000 people are expected to attend.
Braving the dark and the early morning cold, more than 1000 excited pilgrims left North Sydney at 6am (AEST).

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