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	World Youth Day a Logistical Success Australian Broadcasting Corporation July 21, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2310046.htm The Pope's visit to Sydney was a logistical success for the organisers of World Youth Day. While the planned protests had virtually no impact the church did face once major obstacle during the week, the issue of sexual abuse. Transcript KERRY O'BRIEN, PRESENTER: After a jubilant weekend culminating with more than 400,000 young Catholics from 170 nations at the Randwick Racecourse mass, Pope Benedict's last day in Australia was somewhat more subdued. While the week is now regarded as a spiritual and organisational triumph, the Pope chose today to deal again with an issue that has dogged the church: sexual abuse by members of the clergy, with a private mass dedicated to victims. Sharon O'Neill reports. SHARON O'NEILL: As the Pope flew out of Australia, today the World Youth Day organisers could hardly contain their smiles. CARDINAL GEORGE PELL, CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY: We've just celebrated a wonderful World Youth Day. We've experienced a tsunami of joy and faith. SHARON O'NEILL: It was by anyone's measure a successful week. Sydney was transformed into a holy city. The crowds were well behaved, the public transport system worked and everyone showed up on the day. GEORGE PELL: Over 4,000 priests attended, priests and deacons, 420 bishops, 26 cardinals and there was one Pope. SHARON O'NEILL: Before he left Sydney this morning that Pope still had one piece of unfinished business. In a private gathering and mass at Cathedral House he met four hand picked victims of sexual abuse who wish to remain anonymous. GEORGE PELL: They were chosen by our Professional Standards Officer. We have a system to deal with these problems and they do this well and sensitively, they chose these people. SHARON O'NEILL: The victims did not include Anthony and Christine Foster, whose two daughters who were raped by a Catholic priest while in primary school. The Fosters flew into Sydney last week hoping for a meeting with the pope. ANTHONY FOSTER: I think it is simply underhanded, sneaky and everyone involved in it should be ashamed of themselves. SHARON O'NEILL: On Saturday morning the Pope used a service at Saint Mary's Cathedral to deliver a long-awaited public apology to all victims of Church sexual abuse in Australia. POPE BENEDICT 16TH: Indeed I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. SHARON O'NEILL: Just hours later as these pilgrims began their long walk to Randwick Racecourse, no one was dwelling on the sexual abuse victim. VOX POP: We are lucky to come here and join the World Youth Day with other young peoples. SHARON O'NEILL: These pilgrims travelled to Sydney from the Solomon Islands. Did you ever think you'd walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge? VOX POP 2: No. I never think of that. SHARON O'NEILL: Last year a group of young Catholics from Lismore in Northern New South Wales visited the Solomon Islands as part of their efforts to connect with other young Catholics who might be coming to World Youth Day. They were expecting around 100 to come, but an extensive fundraising program enabled 400 to make the journey. VOX POP 3: This is my first and biggest event I've ever been to. SHARON O'NEILL: World Youth Day organisers were keen to ensure there was a large representation from the Pacific Islands. Many thousands came from all over the region to brave the cold and embrace a week-long opportunity which culminated here at Randwick Racecourse. GEORGIANNA LEPPING: It's amazing, when I first got here it's really cold but I was just too excited, I really enjoy every moment of it here. SHARON O'NEILL: What's the week been like so far? GED MCMAHON: It's been a joy, a joy to spend it with the Solomon Islander who I met when I was over there, and also a joy to spend time with young Australian Catholics who are exploring their faith. SHARON O'NEILL: Around 200,000 pilgrims poured into Randwick on Saturday, making camp for their weekend vigil. But this was more than just for fun. For the Catholic Church, it was part of its attempt to reinvigorate the faith, especially amongst their young followers. MADELINE ILIC: It's great to see everyone getting out there and exploring their faith and expressing it. Cause normally in adolescence they like to hide and snuggle it away and don't like to show it because they don't want to be picked on and there's heaps of peer pressure involved, but it's great to see everyone expressing what they believe GED MCMAHON: Throughout this week we've concentrated on that message of love and truth and peace and justice, and I think that's cut through a lot of the divisions that have certainly been in the media in the lead up to World Youth Day. SHARON O'NEILL: As the temperatures dropped on Saturday evening, the warm up act for the Pope was warming up the crowd. There were also quieter moments. And then the arrival of Pope Benedict for the evening vigil. As the official proceedings came to an end, the Solomon Islanders, still very unused to the cold, joined 200,000 others for the night pilgrimage. SHARON O'NEILL: What was it like being here and spending the night here over this weekend? MADELINE ILIC: It was very cold obviously, but it was great, we all just got nice and close together, made each other warm. REGINA LEPPING: It's the coldest I've ever been. SHARON O'NEILL: On Sunday morning another 200,000 pilgrims began arriving at Randwick, the only problem so far was several toilet blocks had run out of water. VOX POP 5: It's gross SHARON O'NEILL: But this was a pilgrimage after all, and when the Pope arrived to celebrate mass, nothing was going to dampen the spirits of this adoring crowd. SHARON O'NEILL: The Papal Mass was a traditional ceremony in keeping with Pope Benedict's more conservative approach. But there were unconventional inclusions which pleased the crowd. And then the 81-year-old Pontiff addressed his young followers, the largest gathering for a single event in Australia's history, according to the organisers. POPE BENEDICT THE 16TH: A new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished. Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity. SHARON O'NEILL: For these pilgrims from the Solomon Islands, like so many others, it has been an extraordinary week. REGINA LEPPING: I think he wants us to be the prophets of today so that children of tomorrow can know and follow our example. SHARON O'NEILL: For the Australian Catholics too it has been a show of strength that the church will be hoping will continue long after the World Youth Day celebration is over. MADELINE ILIC: I'm just so glad to be involved. It's increased my belief in my faith and I hope it will increase others in the future KERRY O'BRIEN: That report from Sharon O'Neill.
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