A massive Catholic youth celebration kicked off yesterday with an Australian “G’Day” and a welcoming text message from Pope Benedict XVI to the tens of thousands of pilgrims who have traveled here from around the world.
As the clock struck midnight, a giant countdown clock ticked over to read “G’Day Pilgrims” — Good Day, Pilgrims — drawing wild cheers from flag-waving youth who had gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral to mark the start of the six-day celebration.
Registered pilgrims received the first of daily inspirational text messages from the pope: “Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus — BXVI.”
PHOTO: AP
Organizers say as many as 250,000 people have registered for World Youth Day, more than half of them from overseas.
Thousands of young people were staying in churches and school houses or in volunteers’ homes.
On Monday and yesterday, groups of pilgrims hoisting their official yellow, red and orange backpacks milled around the city, mostly in the central business district area near Hyde Park and the cathedral, the focal point of the celebrations.
Commuters were delayed yesterday by road closures in and around central Sydney. More closures and detours were to follow later in the week as the World Youth Day activities spread to different venues. Residents were advised to avoid driving and instead to use public transportation during Sydney’s largest event since the 2000 Olympics.
Every evening during the event, a light show of 20 images of the pope and the Australian outback will be projected on a pylon of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge in celebration of World Youth Day.
The first official event of the week was a pilgrimage to the cathedral yesterday morning.
In the afternoon, about 150,000 people were expected to attend an opening Mass led by Cardinal George Pell, the archbishop of Sydney.
Also yesterday, a federal court struck down a law that banned causing “annoyance” to pilgrims, clearing the way for a Saturday protest by activists opposed to Pope Benedict’s policies on contraception, abortion and homosexuality.
“We now have a lot more confidence to take to the streets to condemn Pope Benedict’s policies,” said Rachel Evans, one of the plaintiffs. “We are glad that the court has ruled that we do have the freedom of expression to communicate our political views on Saturday.”
Evans — in a T-shirt with the words “The pope is wrong. Put a condom on” — gave a few red condoms away and then strolled off.
Jess Sudholz, a teenage pilgrim from the Australian state of Victoria, was unfazed by the prospect of protests.
“I think everyone should be allowed to say what they want. It’s their opinion,” Sudholz said. “We’re still going to have fun.”
The pope, who arrived on Sunday, is resting at a secluded retreat on the outskirts of Sydney until tomorrow, when he will start a busy round of meetings, take a cruise on Sydney Harbour and make a major address to the pilgrims. The festival will culminate with a papal Mass on Sunday.
Ronny Guenker, a 32-year-old German pilgrim, said it was a good sign that the pope was visiting the youth festival “because we are the church of the future.”
Benedict has raised expectations that he will apologize directly to victims of past clergy sexual abuse while he is in Australia, telling reporters he would do everything possible to achieve “healing and reconciliation with the victims.”
Activists in Australia have demanded the pontiff make a formal apology.
Benedict also signaled he will discuss the need to face up to the “great challenge” of caring for the environment, adding that global warming is an issue worrying many young people.
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