In 2008 , St Mary 's Cathedral became the focus of World Youth Day 2008 and was visited by Pope Benedict XVI who , in his homily on 19 July , made the historic full apology for child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Australia , of whom 107 have been committed by the courts . On 16 December 2014 , Archbishop Anthony Fisher invoked the special prayers in the Roman Missal from the " mass in times of civil disturbance " for the victims of the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis . A memorial service was held at the cathedral on the morning of 19 December for Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson , in attendance were the Governor-General Peter Cosgrove , then-Minister of Communications Malcolm Turnbull , Senator Arthur Sinodinos , Premier of New South Wales Mike Baird , and then-Minister of Transport Gladys Berejiklian
2014 Sydney hostage crisis
2014 Sydney hostage crisis
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney