Premier Morris Iemma has lit up the Sydney Harbour Bridge with images of World Youth Day, as pilgrims start to celebrate in earnest.
In case you hadn't noticed, Sydney has been consumed by World Youth Day.
For the next week pictures of the Pope will be projected onto the southern pylon of the Harbour Bridge, a Youth Day cross procession shut down Pitt Street today and the city is still swarming with pilgrims.
Even NSW premier Morris Iemma is getting into the spirit, talking to the Italian media in their native tongue.
The true test of public transport will be tomorrow and Thursday, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected in the city, but Morris Iemma says so far so good.
"Things have gone well, as far as transport and traffic, and the spirit is just starting to build, everyone having a great time."
"As the week goes on we'll see a fantastic spirit from all of our international and interstate visitors as part of World Youth Day. It will be a terrific festival."
However the government is still keen for Sydneysiders to leave their cars at home this week.
Traffic was only down nine per cent today, well short of the 30 per cent reduction needed for 'Super Thursday' to run smoothly.
Road clsures began today as thousands of pilgrims are sang and danced their way down Pitt Street in Central Sydney, accompanying the newly arrived World Youth Day Cross.
Sydney store worker James McInerney said he was enjoying the show but was not tempted to join in the procession.
"It's something you don't see every day, I'm just sitting back trying to see what it's all about," Mr McInerney said.
"There's a lot of smiles, a lot of happy people around, which has got to be good, you don't often see that in the city on a Monday morning."
Ten-year-old pilgrim Paolini Pazdzior said the arrrival of the cross was a special moment in her life.
"It's amazing to have it here, to feel the power," she said.
Video: Yasmin Bright