A 1-ounce commemorative gold coin featuring Pope Benedict XVI has been struck by the Perth Mint in Sydney, Australia, to commemorate the pope’s visit to Australia in July for World Youth Day. CNS PHOTO/COURTESY WORLD YOUTH DAY SYDNEY 2008

By Dan McAloon
Catholic News Service

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) — Australia has released a special series of coins and postage stamps to commemorate Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Australia for World Youth Day in Sydney as organizers confirmed new details of the July 15-20 events.

Australia Post released one domestic stamp and two international stamps with the pope’s picture and the World Youth Day 2008 logo. A limited edition of gold- and silver-coated World Youth Day stamps, the first stamps of their kind to be produced by Australia Post for an event, were also released March 4.

The Perth Mint released limited gold and silver 1-ounce coins depicting Pope Benedict, the World Youth Day logo and the inscription “World Youth Day Sydney 2008” on the reverse side.

John Watkins, a member of the Australian state of New South Wales’ Legislative Assembly, announced that Pope Benedict will stay in the residence of Sydney Cardinal George Pell. The papal residence is located next to St. Mary’s Cathedral, which will be the focus of Eucharistic Adoration during World Youth Day; authorities envision a massive security and logistical exercise to cope with the pope’s stay.

A volunteer stamps a World Youth Day 2008 logo on tiny crosses being made at the Mary MacKillop Outreach Center in Sydney. Senior workers at the center are making tens of thousands of the crosses to be distributed during the journey of the World Youth Day cross and icon. CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

Watkins said the pope’s itinerary includes travel by boat to some Sydney locations and events. Pope Benedict will step ashore to receive his official welcome July 17.

Danny Casey, chief operating officer for World Youth Day, confirmed that Barangaroo, a stretch of waterfront on the eastern side of Darling Harbor, will host the opening Mass, the papal arrival, two stations of a Way of the Cross and several youth festival events.

He said about 150,000 pilgrims are expected for the opening Mass, which Cardinal Pell will celebrate. Several parishes in the Oakland Diocese are organizing groups of young adults to attend the events. Some young adults are planning to go as individuals.

At Royal Randwick Racecourse, the site of the overnight vigil July 19-20 and the closing Mass, the pope will celebrate Mass on an altar specially constructed to hold 1,000 clergy.

The altar is to be built on the highest point of land on the 202-acre racecourse, maximizing the ability to see for 300,000 worshippers within the racecourse perimeter. Another 200,000 in the adjacent Centennial Parklands will watch the Mass on large screens.

The racecourse was last used for a papal Mass in 1995 when Pope John Paul II celebrated the beatification ceremony of Sister Mary MacKillop, founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

World Youth Day organizers have 10 weeks of exclusive access to Randwick in which to transform the racecourse for the July 20 papal Mass.

Young Catholics dip the World Youth Day cross into the sea at the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia, last September. The pilgrim cross, entrusted to the youths of the world by Pope John Paul II, has been carried more than 7,440 miles across Australia ahead of World Youth Day 2008. CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

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