Sydney - Catholic youngsters in Sydney for a weeek-long love-in with Pope Benedict XVI were promised a life-changing experience Friday as they lined the harbour for a theatrical re-enactment of the final days in the life of Jesus.

Cardinal George Pell, the leader of Australia's 5 million Catholics and the pope's host during the World Youth Day celebrations, said a series of tableaus called the Stations of the Cross was "one of the greatest teaching moments."

Around 225,000 pilgrims are attending the event that is held at a different venue every three years. Half are from abroad and represent over 170 countries. The jamboree concludes Sunday with a papal mass at a racecourse that could draw a congregation of 500,000.

The three-hour re-enactment, played out in six city locations, will be beamed to a worldwide audience expected to top 1 billion. A cast of 100 will be lead by 27-year-old Alfio Stuto, who plays Jesus.

"It's a little bit daunting and I am nervous but I just stay focused," Stuto said. "I mean, this is huge in the sense that people can connect and we can touch people's hearts."

The Holy Father will be there for the opening, a reprise of the Last Supper, and performed inside St Mary's Cathedral, where he is staying during his first visit to Australia.

A reprise of Christ's crucifixion, which closes the show, is at the former container terminal where the German-born pope met his flock on Thursday after a grand entrance by boat.

After sailing past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge, the pope addressed a crowd estimated at 150,000. He then toured the city in the bullet-proof vehicle known as the Popemobile. (dpa)