The Pope meets the serpent ... and the koala and the parrot

But the hint of a good vs evil face-off dissipated when the pontiff next squared up against a koala - and, smiling, gave the fuzzy furball a little scratch behind the ears.

The Pope was meeting native Australian animals during the World Youth Day celebration in Australia, where young Roman Catholic pilgrims attended religious classes then chowed down on sausages at barbecues.

That's the spot: Even the Pope can't resist giving this adorable furball a scratch behind the ears

Only if I have to: Perhaps understandably, the Pope appears less enthusiastic as he meets the snake

The second day of the celebration offered a relaxed schedule, beginning with "time for silence for reflection," according to the pilgrims' official handbook. Afternoon events include a pilgrimage walk to the downtown St. Mary's Cathedral, barbecues at hundreds of venues around the city and a beach party at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach featuring a rapping American priest.

Pilgrims also received the second of daily mobile phone text messages from Pope Benedict: "The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles and gives u the power boldly 2 proclaim that Christ is risen! - BXVI."

The pope, enjoying a final day of rest before joining the events tomorrow, held prayers at a private retreat today, then viewed some native Australian animals brought to him by wildlife officers, including a kangaroo, a baby crocodile and a spiky echidna.

Australian fauna was also on the minds of some of the crowds of pilgrims who celebrated together at traditional Aussie fry-ups in the city.

Polly meets the pontiff: The Pope was also introduced to this parrot

"Is it kangaroo? Because I can't do that," said Carol Stockley from New Jersey as she overlooked meat sizzling on a hot plate at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in the city. "But we'll try the sausages."

Nearly 250,000 people registered for World Youth Day, more than half from overseas. The scale of the event was revealed when pilgrims arrived in droves and gathered along a waterfront Tuesday near the landmark Sydney Harbor Bridge for a twilight Mass, beginning with a procession of groups from 168 countries waving their national flags.

Benedict has been resting at a retreat on Sydney's outskirts. He is to move to the grounds of St. Mary's Cathedral, an imposing gothic-style church that is one of Australia's oldest and largest, later today, marking the end of his semi-vacation.

And of course, no visit to Australia would be complete without the Pope meeting a kangaroo

Tomorrow, he will receive a traditional Aboriginal welcome and tour Sydney's harbor by boat before delivering a major address to pilgrims. A papal Mass on Sunday before thousands at a racetrack in the city is scheduled to end the proceedings.

In his sermon at the official opening Mass on Tuesday, Sydney's Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, urged the pilgrims to keep the faith through self-discipline and prayer.

"Many of you have traveled such a long way that you may believe that you have arrived indeed at the ends of the Earth," Pell said. "If so, that's good, for our Lord told his first apostles that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the Earth."

Rites, including the Holy Communion, left many in tears. Some in the crowd sang along with the choir and orchestra as they played traditional hymns and more upbeat Christian pop songs.

The pilgrims - who are staying in churches, schools and volunteers' homes - have filled the city for days, recognizable by their official yellow, red and orange backpacks and their cheerful greetings and outbursts of song. Sydney residents and commuters have had to deal with street closures and bus route detours around the major venues.