Organisers of World Youth Day in Sydney have launched a social networking site to continue the mission of the mega-meeting with Pope Benedict XVI long after it is over. Sydney’s Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, has given the project his blessing and will share his profile (Relationship Status? Consecrated single. Prayer Intentions? For World Youth Day), views and experiences, and invite pilgrims worldwide to become his friends through www.Xt3.com

Xt3, which stands for Christ in the third millennium, is like Facebook but with different content. Users can join groups, post events, volunteer for charities, chat to a priest, post prayer intentions and join online discussions about theology, social justice and ethics. It is monitored 24/7 for inappropriate material.

“All sorts of young people will come in and out of this site [and] they won’t necessarily be Catholics, or high-octane Catholics,” said WYD co-ordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher, adding that it was “a new page -- dare I say a new web page -- in the progress of the Gospel.” During the five days of the festival Pope Benedict will send text messages to pilgrims’ mobiles and giant screens will be set up at different sites so pilgrims can share prayers in the form of text messages. ~ Sydney Morning Herald, June 13; The Australian, June 12