Some 150,000 young pilgrims attended mass on the shores of Sydney Harbour today for the Catholic church's biggest youth festival, but protesters plan to rally against Pope Benedict ahead of his outdoor mass on Sunday.
"Too often in the history of the world when young people travel in great numbers to other parts of the world they do so in the cause of war, but you are here as pilgrims of peace," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today.
"Some say there is no place for faith in the 21st century, I say they are wrong. You are the light of the world at a time when the world has so much darkness," said Mr Rudd, a practising Catholic, in welcoming the pilgrims ahead of the mass.
More than 250,000 young Catholics from 176 countries have arrived in Sydney for World Youth Day (WYD), July 15th-20th, holding not only crucifixes, rosaries and bibles, but national flags draped over their shoulders and guitars.
The Catholic church hopes WYD will revitalise the world's young Catholics at a time when the cult of the individual and consumerism has become big distractions in their daily lives.
"Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI," read the first of the Pope's daily text messages which will be sent out during World Youth Day.
The Pope has said he will apologise during his visit to Australian victims of sexual abuse in the church. Broken Rites, which represents abuse victims, has a list of 107 convictions for church abuse, but says there may be thousands more victims.
Reflecting the religious fervour in Sydney, "Ratzinger Rules" was spray painted on a war memorial overnight. Josef Ratzinger is the birth name of Pope Benedict.
But despite the influx of Catholic pilgrims, Sydney's darker side remained not far from the surface. A Sydney brothel welcomed pilgrims, urging "potential sinners to commit their sins" before the Pope leaves Australia. The brothel offered a 10 per cent discount to anyone with a WYD accreditation card.
Australia is a secular society where the Catholic church is struggling to attract worshippers. About 5 million Australians are Catholic, but less than one million attend Sunday mass.
"Don't spend your life sitting on the fence...because only commitments bring fulfilment," Australian Cardinal George Pell told the pilgrims during the opening WYD mass. "To be a disciple of Jesus requires discipline, especially self discipline."
"No Pope" protesters have welcomed young Catholics in Sydney, but plan to hand them coathangers to protest against backyard abortions, condoms to promote safe sex, and stickers with gay themes to promote the rights of homosexuals.
Anti-protest laws imposed for the Pope's Sydney visit this week, which could see protesters arrested for annoying Catholic pilgrims, were ruled unconstitutional by a court today.
Under the laws, protesters could have been arrested or fined A$5,500 for wearing anti-Catholic T-shirts or for handing out condoms.
Reuters