CAFOD blog

Sunday saw the culmination of our time in Sydney, with the actual “World Youth Day” – 400,000 pilgrims gathered together at a transformed racecourse for the closing Mass with Pope Benedict.

This was the biggest gathering of one people at any one time in modern Australian history, with another 100,000 locals joining the 300,000 pilgrims who spent the previous evening sleeping out under the stars.

It all began on Saturday as people made the pilgrim walk to Randwick Racecourse. Some started walking at 6am across Sydney Harbour Bridge - quite a special experience as it was only the second time in its history that it has been shut to vehicles.

Like the rest of the week, there was a great atmosphere as people walked along the roads, talking with one another, singing (the first time I’ve heard the Taizé chant “Adoramus Te, Domine” sung by a group of lads in rugby-crowd chant style, complete with actions), and some even praying the Rosary.

They all knew that they were heading to the high point of their week.

On the way in we were handed our food for the next 24 hours - four bread rolls, some marmalade, a can of chicken-salad (strangely imported from France – just think of those food miles!), a tin of tuna, cake, chocolate, water and oranges.

Next was the task of finding what WYDSYD describe as your “pod”, or home, for the next day.

All across the racecourse were pens marked out with fences and rope to which people were assigned.

When we finally worked out the route to D2, we had to really look for a small amount of space for the two of us to squeeze into – and ended up sharing.

Along with us there was a large group from Taiwan, a group from the States and – on the other side of the fence – a group of mainly teenage lads from Australia, our sleep-out neighbours.

Luckily for us, we were quite close to the front and had a good view of the altar – we could even see the people on it with the naked eye and didn’t have to rely on the giant screens which dotted the site.

After lots of music from the main stage, it was time for the Vigil to start as Pope Benedict arrived for the evening.

The Pope has gone down a storm in Sydney. Before the week began, there was a lot of negative press about WYD and the Pope in Australia but, as soon as people began to experience the WYD energy and atmosphere, attitudes changed drastically.

This was especially the case after the Pope formally apologised to victims of abuse by clergy which had been dominating the negative press coverage.

Locals have been out in the streets smiling and waving on pilgrims en route to events, some even in fancy dress.

People have been touched by how much he seemed to be enjoying Sydney and the effort he has made with people – particularly taking time out to meet a Sydney policeman dying of cancer whose police hat the Pope tried on.

Apparently he has kept the hat, which is illegal, but I guess no-one’s about to arrest the Pope for impersonating a police officer!

After the Vigil with its mix of songs, prayers, a talk from the Pope, and time of quiet reflection and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, it was time for people to sleep… but not many people actually did!

This was the bit of WYD which is always most memorable.

After the imaginatively titled “Priest Band” had done their set (five priests from across the globe playing rock music… really, it was quite bizarre), another “world music group” came on.

The whole racecourse came alive as they started playing Irish jig music and people from countries across the world all started to dance together with their made-up moves.

It was incredible to see and you could not help but smile to see people having so much fun.

Posted by AnnaF

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