World Youth Day (WYD) 2008 was held in Sydney from 15 to 20 July 2008. A week-long festival, primarily for young people, WYD 2008 was hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and incorporated the first visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia. WYD 2008 brought together 223,000 registered pilgrims, including over 110,000 overseas visitors from 170 nations. It is estimated that the Final Mass on 19 July was attended by over 400,000 people, making it one of the largest ever gatherings in Australia.
The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, personally welcomed all pilgrims to Australia at the Opening Mass on Tuesday 15 July.The Prime Minister and the Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, also formally met with the Holy Father on Thursday 17 July and extended their warm welcome on behalf of the Australian Government. On Monday 21 July, the Prime Minister farewelled his Holiness from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. (Copies of the Prime Minister’s speeches are available at www.pm.gov.au).
The first WYD was officially celebrated in Rome on Palm Sunday in 1986. It was then repeated in 1987. WYD is promoted as an opportunity 'for young people from throughout the world to make a pilgrimage in faith, to meet and experience hospitality and the love of God'.
Since then WYDhas beenheld every two to three years. Itwas held in Argentina 1987, Spain 1989, Poland 1991, USA 1993, the Philippines 1995, France 1997, Italy 2000, Canada 2002, and Germany 2005.
The Australian Government provided $35 million to WYD 2008 as its direct funding contribution to the costs of hosting the event. It met other in-kind expenses, such as visa facilitation, security and costs associated with the papal visit.
The Australian Government provided half of a $40 million compensation package to the NSW racing industry to secure the use of Royal Randwick Racecourse during the Vigil and Papal Mass.
There are five federal parliamentary representatives on the WYD Local Organising Committee. The Australian Government is represented by:
- the Hon Martin Ferguson MP (Minister for Tourism)
- the Hon Tony Burke MP (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
- Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens (Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector and the Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion).
In 2006, the former Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources was appointed to oversee Australian Government involvement in WYD 2008. The Department established an interdepartmental committee to coordinate Australian Government agencies, who provided advice, strategic support and direct services to the event. These areas of responsibility included travel visas, border security, tourism promotion, transport regulation, international relations, employment opportunities, health benefits and tax concessions. The Department also provided support to the LOC representatives. Following the change of government, the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) continued this role.
Following the change of government, the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) has continued this role.
On 18 February 2008, an official reception was held for the WYD Cross and Icon in the Great Hall of Parliament House. During his address in the House of Representatives later that day, the Prime Minister extended his welcome to the Holy Father and to pilgrims from across the world and reconfirmed the Australian Government's support for the event.
For more information on WYD 2008, please visit the World Youth Day
website.
For further information on Tourism Australia’s involvement, visit www.tourism.australia.com/wyd08.