O God,
you have called men and women of every land
to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood,
the Church of your dear Son:

unite us in mutual love
across the barriers of race and culture,
and strengthen us in our common task
of being Christ
and showing Christ
to the world he came to save.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

--Benedict XVI
Opening Prayer
Welcome at Barangaroo, Sydney
17 July 2008

PHOTOS: AP/Mark Baker(1,2); AP/Rob Griffith(3)

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