A Helensburgh father of two will receive the honour of his life when he meets the Pope this afternoon.
Wollongong's World Youth Day team chief executive officer Daniel Hopper, 30, will join Bishop Peter Ingham on Pope Benedict's boat as part of the historic "boat-a-cade" that leaves Rose Bay for Barangaroo at 2.45pm.
Also, 40 residents of Wollongong's Catholic diocese have been chosen to join the boat-a-cade, travelling on the Captain Cook vessel Jillian.
Yesterday, Mr Hopper was told the 45 minute, Sydney Harbour journey would include a Papal introduction.
"(Meeting the Pope) is going to be absolutely fantastic. I'm trying not to think about it in case it doesn't happen," he said.
Bishop Ingham also will be among those to receive an introduction, his first since 2004, when he met the Pope as then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
"The Australian bishops are to be on the boat with him and then he'll also have lunch with us on Saturday, so I am very much looking forward to it," Bishop Ingham said.
"But there are 400 bishops from around the world here and 27 cardinals, so I'm not the only one who wants to say g'day."
Mr Hopper said he had been overwhelmed by the honours he had received this week, especially as he had only been a Catholic for six years, after converting from Anglicanism.
In 2006 he took leave from his job as a corporate and tax lawyer, after being chosen by Bishop Ingham to head up the Wollongong WYD team.
The team went on to organise 63 diocesan events over 13 days for the Journey of the Cross and Icon in March, and last week's Days in the Diocese program for 1500 international pilgrims.
This week he is in Sydney, leading the diocese's support team and help desk, for the visiting pilgrims and the estimated 1000-strong Wollongong contingent.
His hard work was recognised on Tuesday when he was among 50 people from throughout the world chosen to receive Holy Communion from Cardinal George Pell at the WYD opening Mass.
Mr Hopper described the Mass, attended by 150,000 people at Barangaroo, as "amazing".
"I was seated just 4m away from the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
"Then I went up to receive Communion ... the crowd was massive and that stage was huge.
"I was so pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the Mass was and the indigenous element, and the way they mixed that with elements from the islander cultures was absolutely beautiful."
Mr Hopper said his biggest problem now would be to find a suit for the Papal meeting.
He was also yet to receive instructions on the protocol of such a meeting.
"When we received Communion last night, we just looked at what the other people were doing in front and thought, 'We'd better do that'," he said.
"I'm assuming I'll be doing the same thing tomorrow."
Bishop Ingham said he was having a "wonderful time" at the Sydney celebrations.
"Yesterday's Mass just blew my mind. The reverence was what struck me," he said.
"There was one stage at Holy Communion time when there was silence ... this reverential awe."
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