The 17-year-old Kavanagh College pupil was dancing and singing in the streets of Sydney with a group of Brazilians last Thursday when she twisted her ankle on a tram track.
"It hurt, but it was worth it," she said.
Rushed to hospital in an ambulance, Brydie was still able to enjoy the rest of the week-long festivities, albeit on crutches.
"It was such an awesome time. The highlight for me was damaging my ankle and then seeing the Pope."
Fellow Kavanagh College pilgrim Maria Kennedy (17) said being around 500,000 other young Catholics was a "fantastic experience".
"It was amazing to see people from all corners of the world come together for World Youth Day."
Being within 10m of the Pope was a highlight for Sophie Bang (15), of Columba College.
"When he came near us everyone was just screaming. The atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced before."
Fr Vaughan Leslie, of Dunedin, said the 140 young people from the Otago-Southland Roman Catholic diocese who attended the event had an enjoyable time.
"It was a marvellous experience and I am sure many of them will be itching to go to the next one in Madrid. I think a few of the pilgrims will be studying Spanish to prepare themselves."
The Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Colin Campbell, said the Sydney World Youth Day, for which more than half a million pilgrims attended mass at Randwick racecourse, was a well-organised event.
"I went to the World Youth Day event in Cologne and this was a superior event. The Australians did a fantastic job and the feedback from the community was brilliant.
"I was very proud of our young pilgrims and they were a credit to Southland and Otago."
