From Parliament House to the Pope 28 Western Samoan pilgrims spent a week exploring Canberra before heading to Sydney yesterday for World Youth Day celebrations.

One of the pilgrims, Kolotita Michelle Silva, said the group was set to meet the Pope and hoped they would be photographed with him.

Another of the pilgrims, Ana Fepuleai, said the trip to Sydney would be the group's first opportunity to see the Pope as a ''real person'' and not just on television.

The pilgrims have brought traditional Samoan outfits with them to perform a dance as part of World Youth Day celebrations.

Ms Silva said the group had enjoyed everything about Canberra, except for the cold.

Coming from the warm climate of Western Samoa to a freezing Canberra winter was a bit of a shock.

The pilgrims were billeted with Canberra residents and visited many local attractions, including Parliament House, the War Memorial and the National Museum.

Ms Fepuleai said, ''The people we stayed with were so friendly and kind and accepted us as part of their family.''

The pilgrimage was Ms Silva's second visit to Australia. Her favourite Canberra attraction was the National Museum.

The pilgrims said they hoped to fit in some more sightseeing while in Sydney.