Pope Benedict XVI was given an official welcome today on his first visit to Australia by Governor-General Michael Jeffery and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Yet, in the midst of all the pomp and circumstance, His Holiness was also delighted with a simple gift from two young students.

Sisters Erin and Sarah White, both from All Hallows Primary at Five Dock, were able to spend a few minutes greeting the Pope before he moved on to his next destination.

The girls, from Year 5 and Year 1 respectively, were the select two chosen to present the Holy Father with a bunch of native Australian flowers. They also gave him pictures of their cats, Garfield and Custard, as they had heard he is a cat lover.

Pope Benedict thanked them for their gifts and gave them each a set of rosary beads.

Students from St Charles' Primary, Waverley and Regina Coeli Primary, Beverly Hills also took part in the private reception for the Pope at Government House.

About 200 people were at the reception including Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and Premier Maurice Iemma.

From St Charles' Waverley the students who attended included Jack Kelly, Lainey Goldsbro, Lauren Goldsbro, Kelsey Goldsbro, Matthew Gallagher, Alex McNae, Michaela Quirk, Sienna Quirk, Annabella Abruzzese, Dominic Abruzzese, Bianca Abruzzese, Rachel Soden and John Soden.

From Regina Coeli students attending the ceremonial welcome included Dylan Dinale, Matthew Dinale, Kai Hammond, Caitlin Hammond, Christopher Gwynne, Matthew Watson, Penny Toscano, Valery Samrani and school captains Matthew Gwynne and Emily Watson.

Emily said that she felt really excited and privileged to have got close to the Pope and see him in person. She said she would like to ask the Pope to pray for her and her family.

Matthew Gwynne said he was grateful for the "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to meet the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.

At the reception the Prime Minister welcomed the Pope in the name of the whole Australian community.

Pope Benedict said, "It seems particularly appropriate to celebrate World Youth Day here, since the Church in Australia, as well as being the youngest of any continent, is also one of the most cosmopolitan,"

"Since the first European settlement here in the late 18th century, this country has become a home not only to generations of Europeans but to people from every corner of the globe."

"Owing to the many religious traditions represented in Australia, this is particularly fertile ground for ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue."

He said WYD filled him with "confidence for the future of the Church and the future of the world".

After the welcome ceremony, the pontiff visited Mary MacKillop Chapel in North Sydney, and the order of nuns she founded.

Later today crowds will line the harbour foreshore to watch the Pope's 'boat-a-cade' as it proceeds from the Sydney Opera House to Barangaroo in Darling Harbour.