THE stars of Eureka flew among the flags of the world as Pope Benedict XVI officially opened World Youth Day in Sydney yesterday. The Catholic Church leader made his official entrance to the event via a 45-minute boat cruise around Sydney Harbour.He was joined on board by international cardinals, Australian bishops, and 200 young pilgrims from around the world, including a group of 16 from Ballarat.The locals unfurled the Eureka flag and a St Patrick's College banner on the boat's top deck, with the Ballarat symbols flying among flags of the various nations represented at the global youth event. And while they did not get to meet the pontiff, members of the local contingent said it had been the experience of a lifetime. "I think I'll look back at this as one of the best moments of my life. It's still sinking in," Ballarat pilgrim Amos Nichols said last night. He said being on the boat among singing and dancing pilgrims from countries including Russia, France and the United States had made a big impact on him."It was just amazing to see how alive the Catholic Church is and seeing the amount of young Catholics there are in the world."Fellow pilgrim Darcy De Losa, 18, said her first glimpse of the Pope had brought her to tears. "Seeing the Pope step out of the car, I just cried. These tears came out of nowhere," she said. "It's just the overwhelming sense of oh my gosh, the Pope has actually come - he's here and he has come to see us."She said seeing the Pope and the experience of being among others of the same faith would help pilgrims lead better lives."If we're all scared to move nothing will happen. But if we just make a stand and stand up for what we believe in we can change the world."Also on the vessel were Ballarat Catholic Diocese Bishop Peter Connors and diocese World Youth Day co-ordinator Stacey Atkins.