Pope Benedict XVI visits the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel and prays at the tomb of Mary, during his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day. He gives the sisters the gift of a small statue of Saint Joseph. The sisters in turn present the Holy Father with a bust of Mary, a copy of which is in the Memorial Chapel today. Pope Benedict XVI remarks: “She’s smiling.”
During his World Youth Day reflections on Mary MacKillop, the Holy Father remarks: “Mary MacKillop’s perseverance in the face of adversity, her plea for justice on behalf of those unfairly treated and her practical example of holiness have became a source of inspiration for all.”