optimistic and encouraging, saying, "My hope is that the synod will motivate us all to continue this kind of reflection and evaluation." In addition to the pope's speech, Cardinal John Krol, one of three delegate-presidents, also gave an opening speech, described by one Catholic magazine as "magnificent." Cardinal Gabriel-Marie Garrone, the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, gave a reflective address discussed the Second Vatican Council. Following the opening ceremony, Pope John Paul II addressed the hundreds of young people who had gathered in St. Peter's Square, many of them congregated around a large wooden cross that the pope had gifted to the "youth of the world." Sessions The sessions of the synod, which lasted from November 24 to December 8, included eight minute-long addresses by the bishops during the first four days, followed by a series of small group sessions, and a general discussion during the final days. On 5 December, an Ecumenical Prayer Service was held, with Pope John Paul II presiding over it and the fraternal delegates, who represented non-Catholic groups, present. In a short homily, the pope mentioned the appropriateness of praying for unity with "our friends" the fraternal delegates. He spoke about the necessity for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in reaching Christian unity. Babi Burke incident On 4 December, Babi Burke, a 44-year-old American nurse and mother of four from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, staged a mock Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to protest the Catholic Church's exclusion of women from the priesthood. Burke, wearing a draping black embroidered robe and a white woolen shawl, entered the basilica in the early afternoon with a small group of journalists and photographers. Carrying a lit alcohol lamp, she approached an altar under Bernini's baldachin, behind the main altar. At the altar, she removed her shawl and put on a priest's stole. She kissed the altar and blessed herself with the sign of the cross, and raised her arms in the gesture of fellowship. Burke proceeded to bless and consume a communion host and raise a silver chalice of wine, drinking from it. The host had been brought with her from the U.S. As she mimicked the most sacred part of the Mass, two Vatican security guards ran towards her and removed her from the basilica, holding her arms. As she was led away, Burke exclaimed, "I am Catholic. I am a woman. I belong here."