CATHOLIC WOODSTOCK
World Youth Day was the brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II who thought a festival which included not only masses and religious events like the stations of the cross, but also music and dance concerts would revitalise the world's Catholic youth.
More than 165 outdoor concerts are planned, from religious music to heavy metal, acid jazz and rap, say organisers who tag the Pope the "rock star" attraction of World Youth Day.
There will even be an underground mass and the remains of a dead Italian saint have been flown out for pilgrims to inspect.
For the first three days of his visit the Pope, like most rock stars, will be resting before his gigs. The Vatican's Lombardi said the Pope will retreat to "recover his vital rhythms".
Inside the Catholic retreat on the outskirts of Sydney, the Pope will rest, pray and play a little piano, said an official from Opus Dei which runs the centre.
"He'll probably play the piano more than do sport. I think it's very much a time of rest and preparation," said Opus Dei communications director Richard Vella.
The Pope's first gig on Thursday July 17 will see him meet the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and travel by boat across Sydney Harbour to greet thousands of young pilgrims, before heading off in the Popemobile through Sydney's CBD.
The Church believes that despite Pope Benedict, 81, being the oldest pope elected, he can still engage with young people.
"The goals of World Youth Day are to strengthen the faith and goodness of the young people that are coming," said the head of the Catholic church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell.
"How the Pope will do that is by his presence and teachings, by his praying with us. He is a very fine teacher," said Pell.
Mainstream churches like the Catholic and Anglican struggle to attract worshippers in Australia, unlike small evangelical churches and Buddhism, the fastest growth faith in Australia.
Some 5 million Australians describe themselves as Catholic, but less than one million attend Sunday mass, and the number may have dropped to about 100,000 in the past 5 years.
