Tens of thousands expected at Melbourne events before World Youth Day

Published: 2008-02-19

SYDNEY, Australia (CNS) -- As part of their pilgrimage to World Youth Day, 25,000 international visitors are expected to participate in the Days in the Diocese program in Melbourne before heading to Sydney, challenging archdiocesan transportation organizers. More than 1,000 pilgrims from U.S. dioceses will participate in the July 10-14 program hosted by the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Among them will be large pilgrim groups from Los Angeles, New York, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Wisconsin, San Jose, Calif., Birmingham, Ala., and Burlington, Vt. Melbourne organizers said they expect 50,000 people -- local as well as international pilgrims -- at a July 10 opening Mass and welcome at the Telstra Dome, which has hosted sporting events like the Australian Tennis Open. The actual World Youth Day events will be July 15-20 in Sydney. Transporting pilgrim groups nearly 600 miles from Melbourne to Sydney and back will be "the largest passenger transport movement in (the southern Australian state of) Victoria's history," said Belinda White, coordinator of the program.

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