Reflections on World Youth Day 2008

After the last session in which the Pope thanked the volunteers, one radio commentator stated: "World Youth Day 2008 has come and gone...", thereby missing not only the deeply Christian impact of the event but also the lasting effect on Sydney in particular and Australia in general, and ,of course on the participants. On the other hand an Australian national paper headed its editorial with the words "Pilgrims renew an ancient faith" and went on to salute World Youth Day's organisers for bringing such an exciting, uplifting event Down Under!

Doubtless, the majority of readers would have seen and are therefore aware of the huge reverent crowd which gathered at Randwick Racecourse for the last papal Mass on Sunday, July 20. And of other major episodes of WYD Week such as the Way of the Cross, the spectacular entry of Pope Benedict into Sydney Harbour, the Mass at St Mary's which included the "apology", the impact of a large host of reverent, joyous, happy, extrovert young people. It would therefore be futile to recount the main events of World Youth Day.

More relevant, and not only to those who attended or watched on television together with a billion others worldwide, are the questions put by Pope Benedict: What will you leave to the next generation? (And he was not talking about global warming!) Are you building your life on firm foundations, building something that will endure? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?

Catholics comprise about a fourth of the Australian population, a population with a larrikin, mischievous streak and often irreverent. Whilst World Youth Day was more special to those who belong to the Faith, Sydneysiders, with a few exceptions who quickly choked in their protests, welcomed the event and the pilgrims at first with interest and curiosity and then with much warmth and affection. In the process Sydney has strengthened the impression created by the highly successful 2000 Olympics as a genuine, legitimate centre for huge international events.

What is not evident to viewers from afar, and even to some close at home, is the beneficial effect of the personal encounters on an emotional and spiritual level... and of these there were a multitude; the benefit to the many thousands of volunteers and homestay hosts who gave without asking the cost or expecting a profit; the enlightenment which comes from living with an exuberant, genial, spontaneous multitude of younger humanity from around the world.

And the benefit that this joyous, massive display of faith and goodness; the culture shock created by the presence of some 100,000 faithful pilgrims amongst us, around us, in our homes, will have on Catholics in Australia who have for long lived in a mental religious ghetto.

It was no surprise, nor a burden to Australians when Sydney played hostess to many thousands coming here from distant parts for the 2000 Olympic Games because we have always been enthusiastic, indeed fanatically religious, about sport. But religion is something different which rarely excited us in the past. No wonder that the arrival of more than 100,000 pilgrims bemused Australians and provided an awakening, particularly when we learnt at first hand that religion is not only for older people but for young people as well, even young intellectuals.

For long Catholics in this country have lived in a mental ghetto, burdened by a strange stigma that Catholicism is a congenital disease peculiar to the Irish who, in the past were often considered to be second class citizens. Too often did we have to be unobtrusive and defensive about our faith. It is said that some decades ago adverts appeared in newspapers which stated without shame, guilt, or fear of repercussions:"Catholics need not apply".

Partly because of the clannishness imposed on the Church, even when Irish Australians started to lose their sense of being underdogs, it was not easy for some within the Church itself to accept the different attitudes being brought in by the Catholicism of the huge wave of post-war migration from various European and middle eastern countries and later from the Far East and Latin America. It must be said in justice and fairness that times have changed immensely!

Many of these relative newcomers were actively and passionately involved in World Youth Day. Which furthered and cemented their emancipation. In my own parish two thirds of those who offered hospitality to pilgrims in the HomeStay scheme were migrants. The parish homestay coordinator was also a "New Australian". At the end of World Youth Day he was publicly congratulated by the Parish Priest in the Parish Bulletin for "a magnificent achievement".

Not only will the extraordinary success of World Youth Day stimulate the Church and Catholics in Australia to be more outgoing and forthright but it will promote the position of migrant Catholics who, anyway, already form a significant proportion of many Sunday congregations in Catholic churches not only in Sydney but also in many parts of Australia. We participated in a great effort whose success depended on massive teamwork and goodwill which more than made up for some errors.

The Maltese community in Australia, but more particularly in Sydney, received the grace of a double benefit. Many were actively involved and worked with great credit. We also had the pleasure, satisfaction and emotional uplift of a visit from the new Archbishop, His Grace Mons Paul Cremona. What a breath of fresh air! What spirit emanates from the man! What goodness!

He spoke well, he spoke in the idiom of the people as befits a man of God and of humanity. He asked us Maltese Australians never to forget that besides our dual nationality (which makes us both hosts and pilgrims), we also owe a third allegiance to another realm, that of the spirit and of the Church.

So as Archbishop Paul joined with His Holiness and other bishops from around the world in this great land, the Great Southern Land of the Holy Spirit, we thank the organisers, especially of the liturgies and the public events; the volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy (like the police, the transport people and other public servants...always with a smile); the pilgrims who brought their faith and joy to the city; and Pope Benedict who gave us encouragement, challenged us and who, an 82-year-old, expressed his joyful love of God with the people of Australia and with the young people of the world.

Indeed the Church is young and, despite mishaps and human faults and frailties, we can look with hope to the future. As it looks forward to World Youth Day 2011, Madrid is a lucky city. And we in Sydney thank God. It will be a long, long time before Australia sees a week like World Youth Day again!