Thousands of worshippers have attended the annual Christmas mass at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. Source: AAP
THOUSANDS of worshippers have packed St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney for the annual Christmas mass.
It was standing room only inside the cathedral for the Tuesday morning service, which was led by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.
In his homily, Cardinal Pell focused on the life of St Francis of Assisi, and said the birth of Jesus contained a message "that produces love and goodness".
"This baby did grow up to redeem us by his life, death and resurrection," Cardinal Pell said.
"This is the message of Christmas."
Outside church, one worshipper, Sean, said he'd travelled in from Ryde in the city's northwest for the service with his wife and son, who was singing in the choir.
The service was a chance to connect with his family's past, Sean said.
"My father has always come, my grandfather has always come, and my son has decided he wants to come - it goes back generations," he said.
"It's a link to the people we've lost, and it's a link to something deeper that I can't explain."
Paul, 32, had driven from Kogarah in the city's south to the CBD "to feel the Christmas spirit".
"I don't actually come to church all that often, but it was really good," he told AAP.
"I enjoy the hymns most of all."
In his annual Christmas message this year, Cardinal Pell apologised to those who had "suffered at the hands" of priests and religious teachers.
He did not specifically mention allegations of child sex abuse by members of the clergy, but said he was "deeply sorry" for the hurt that had occurred.
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