The Day That Lasts A Week

Ever since our arrival in Sydney, over 18 months ago, there has been a giant billboard in front of St Mary’s Cathedral featuring a huge red digital display counting down to World Youth Day. Next week that counter hits zero as hundreds of thousands of young Catholic pilgrims from all over the world descend upon the city in search of religious ecstasy.

World Youth Day kicks off on Monday when over 200,000 pilgrims are expected to pass through Sydney International Airport and somehow find the schools, churches, and families that will be hosting them during their stay. On Tuesday and Wednesday they will be criss-crossing the city on public transportation to attend various masses and catechisms. On Thursday, the city will ascend into utter chaos for the arrival of The Pope across the Harbour via Boat-a-Cade and his exodus through the Central Business District via Motorcade. On Friday, the entire foreshore will be transformed into a modern-day Jerusalem for a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross. Saturday features a pilgrimage walk (registered pilgrims only) across the Harbour Bridge, through the streets of downtown ending at Royal Randwick Racetrack for an all night mass. On Sunday there will be a papal fly-over (what, it’s not a plane-a-cade?) followed by another motorcade, and a final mass before everyone says tearful good-byes and goes home.

I am beyond trying to reconcile why a 7 day festival is called World Youth Day other than to simply ask what was so objectionable about the moniker ‘World Youth Week’?

The event is expected to be a bigger draw than the 2000 Olympics and the Government has issued strongly worded advisories for residents to avoid the CBD on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, they did not give the city a day off like they did when George Bush came to town, which either says something about the popularity of Catholicism in Australia or something else too unpleasant to ponder. Furthermore, unlike when George Bush came to town, the government has not released 2,000 inmates to clear bed space for the anticipated arrests of demonstrators. However, they have warned the populace that $5,000 fines will be issued to anyone caught annoying Catholics, causing inconvenience to pilgrims, or wearing offensive t-shirts. I am not making this up. Thus far, this new legislation has not seemed to deter the plans of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to distribute condoms among the pilgrims. (I wonder how many virginities will be lost during the sleep out under the stars...)

This issue prompted me to the discovery that although Australia places a high value on Freedom of Speech, it is not a legal right of the people or of the press. Indeed, according to my (Australian) sources, there is no legal contract that guarantees the rights of individuals. It has occurred to me that, for all of the shortcomings of the United States, I have perhaps drastically over-looked the monumental significance of the Bill of Rights. Nevermore.

As of this writing, I am completely undecided as to whether I should take a few days off and avoid the spiritual mayhem or if I should immerse myself amongst the pious, if for no other reason than the experience would undoubtedly provide for some excellent blog material. I must confess, I am quite intrigued by the promise of the spectacle of Pontius Pilate washing his hands on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, and it is not everyday that one gets to see the Popemobile. Besides, I just know, that in spite of the financial risks, there are going to be some fabulous collectible t-shirts for sale…