Pope leads World Youth Day celebrations in Australia

Sydney: A massive Catholic youth celebration kicked off on Tuesday with a welcoming text message from Pope Benedict XVI to the tens of thousands of pilgrims who have travelled to the city from around the world.

As the clock struck midnight, a giant countdown clock ticked over to read "G'Day Pilgrims", drawing wild cheers from flag-waving youth who had gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral to mark the start of the six-day celebration.

Registered pilgrims received the first of daily inspirational text messages from the pope, "Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI."

Organisers say nearly 250,000 people have registered for World Youth Day, more than half of them from overseas.

The pope, who arrived on Sunday, is resting at a secluded retreat on the outskirts of Sydney until Thursday, when he starts a busy round of meetings, takes a cruise on Sydney Harbour and makes a major address to the pilgrims. The festival culminates with a papal Mass on Sunday.

Also Tuesday, a federal court struck down a new law that banned people from annoying pilgrims, ruling that it restricted free speech.