Forty German-speaking Italians shouted "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!" from the steps of Wollongong's Sacred Heart Church yesterday.
It was a photo call with a multicultural flavour as World Youth Day pilgrims arrived in the region before saluting their hosts with the traditional Australian war cry.
Enthusiasm was high among the team members, despite not having had a full night's sleep since they flew out of northern Italy on Saturday.
As members leapt up and down the steps, occasionally joining for group hugs, youth team leader Martina Drassl said she expected her young charges, mostly aged between 16 and 18, to collapse any minute from exhaustion.
The youths were having none of this, however, as they happily made their way east along Stewart St to attend a lunch at the Italian Social Welfare Centre.
Confusion initially reigned when the Mercury sent Italian-speaking photographer Orlando Chiodo as part of the welcoming party, only to discover some of the responses were being relayed in German.
Ms Drassl, 33, said the team hailed from a region of northern Italy that was originally part of Austria until it was ceded to Italy after World War I.
"German is our mother tongue. We grew up with German in the family and in our schools," Ms Drassl said.
She said excitement was at a premium, especially as many of the party, who will be joined by another 37 Italians due to fly in today, had never flown before.
"Also, none of our group have been to Australia before so there is a lot of excitement, absolutely," Ms Drassl said.
"It is a wonderful experience for our teenagers. It's the largest distance that we can go."
The 72 pilgrims from Manchester in England, attached to St Michael's parish at Thirroul, have been busy entertaining residents with their brisk, early morning swims at Bulli Beach.
The team arrived in the dark on Sunday night and woke on Monday morning to spectacular views from their seaside cabins at Bulli Beach Tourist Park.
"Everyone's commenting on us going in the water in the winter but this is like our summer.
"We were in the water at seven o'clock this morning," pilgrim Lorraine Leonard said.
For Ms Leonard, a youth ministry co-ordinator, the visit will represent her fourth World Youth Day, after attending the Philippines event in 1995, Toronto in 2002 and Cologne in 2005.
Wollongong World Youth Day Calender
Today and tomorrow
Pilgrims continue to arrive in the Illawarra.
Friday, July 11
Living Justly Day: Pilgrims will participate in social justice activities with local youth. Events will be focused on indigenous and ecological conversion issues.
University of Wollongong, 10am-1.30pm;
St Michael's Parish, Nowra, 9.30am-1pm;
Varroville, near Campbelltown, 9.30am-1pm.
Evening Prayer Service celebrating Indigenous Australia at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Wollongong, 7pm.
Saturday, July 12
Everything Aussie Festival, Lang Park, Wollongong: Pilgrims and visitors will celebrate Aussie spirit in a day full of entertainment, parish stalls, rides and Australian animals, 12.30pm-4.30pm.
WYD Band and Choir entertain when doors open at WIN Entertainment Centre, 5pm.
WYD Commissioning Vigil Mass: Wollongong Bishop Peter Ingham and as many as 5000 guests. Mass will be accompanied by a 100-piece WYD band and choir, 6pm.
Sunday, July 13
Sunday Mass
NRL game - St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders, WIN Stadium, Wollongong, 1.30pm. Kick off, 2pm.
SYDNEY
Sunday, July 13
Arrival of Pope Benedict The Pope will arrive at Richmond military air base outside Sydney, 3pm.
Tuesday, July 15
Opening Mass: Celebrated by Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo in inner Sydney, 4.30pm-6.30pm.
Youth Festival: Events will be staged throughout the city from Tuesday to Friday, July 18. Major sites include St Mary's Cathedral and forecourt, The Domain, Sydney Opera House forecourt, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo. All Youth Festival events are free.
Wednesday, July 16
Catechesis (teaching) sessions at more than 250 locations across Sydney for registered pilgrims only, 9am-noon.
Thursday, July 17
Catechesis sessions: 9am-noon.
Papal boat-a-cade: Sydney Harbour from 2.45pm.
Papal arrival at Barangaroo: 3.30pm-4.30pm.
Papal motorcade through Sydney CBD: 4.30pm-5.30pm.
Friday, July 18
Stations of the Cross: A re-enactment of the last moments of Jesus' life: St Mary's Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House forecourt, Domain, 3pm-6pm.
Saturday, July 19
Pilgrimage walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse, from 5.30am.
Evening vigil with the Pope and sleep out under the stars at Southern Cross Precinct (Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park), 7-9pm.
Sunday, July 20
Papal flyover and motorcade through Southern Cross Precinct, 9am.
Final Mass celebrated by the Pope, Southern Cross Precinct, 10am.
Youth Festival events at Southern Cross Precinct, 12.30-5pm.
HANDY LINKS
For details of every activity on every day go to www.wyd2008.org
Caritas Australia events: www.caritas.org.au
TRANSPORT
Call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or go to www.131 500.info
Email a friend