I Saw the Pope!
July 18th, 2008We began our foray in Town Hall at noon, sauntering down to Circular Quay, where the pilgrims were starting to build up in mass numbers along the edge. Overhead was a computerised woman’s voice, admonishing pilgrims: “Wash your hands before you eat.”
Back down along George Street was the Apple Store, a three-storey glass building with metallic walls. Flooded with geeks, it was pretty boring.
We headed to the Sydney Central Plaza food court then meandered through Myer after lunch. It’s undergoing a mini makeover, so on one of the levels was a girl wearing fluro yellow road worker garb, holding an “ASK ME” sign. Surely enough, many people did walk up to her. And in a bona fide fashion, too.
Deciding it was time to find a spot along the papal motorcade route, we made our way down George Street. I asked a Filipina in purple and blue about whether the Pope would pass the section we were standing at, but without answering my question she told us to walk down Martin Place for “better views” instead.
So to Martin Place we did go. We somehow managed to walk all the way to St Mary’s Cathedral.
Mum and I spent in excess of an hour waiting along the chalky high gates of College Street. The Holy Father was running late, you could tell. The chants of the Spanish pilgrims opposite us were wearying, with all the eager spectators inured by the police motorcycles whizzing by.
Then came the moment. The Popemobile zoomed by without warning. Blink and you would’ve missed it. After the enigmatic millisecond, came the peevish, ubiquitous complaints: “What the hell? He went by so quickly!”
For some reason, not all the pilgrims attended mass. On my way to eat dinner at Chinatown, I was surrounded by the omnipresence of their orange backpacks. After finishing my bowl of ramen, we shopped around Market City for a little while before heading home.
I love the city’s nightlife. Stopping for traffic on our way to Town Hall station, we were bemused to find a man playing guitar while balancing a second guitar on his forehead.
We were in the happy company of ardently singing Germans on the train. When they ran out of aggressively cute German songs to sing, Christmas carols like Jingle Bells sufficed alongside the cohort’s loud clapping. When they alighted, the train was peculiarly soundless.
More than ever, I saw what religion can do to people. Forget your stereotypes of wantonness, contraband and rebellion. I saw young males and females alike peacefully parading the streets, proudly waving their respective flags (I saw the flag of the Republic of Vietnam a lot!) and fervidly singing along to their fellow guitar-playing compatriots. 
I wish I were a registered pilgrim. Especially because my church has been begging us register for months on end, with me eagerly staying back for one of the few opportunities to. But I found out that because I was under 18, I required adult supervision.
“Youth” — in the Church’s eyes — is 18 to 35 years of age!
Vance Luin
LOL you shouldn’t be questioning the “youth” part of world youth day, i am more concerned with the “world” and the “day”
world — well, it’s not like the whole world is involved. its just the catholics. And despite whatever they want to believe, not the entire world is catholic. its somewhat racist, when you put it that way.
day — well, it doesn’t really go on for one day. its more like…days. well, i dont know but our government is pouring a lot of our tax money, including those who are catholic and dont benefit from/support the event (but thats a whole other issue, they claim it brings in revenue from tourism, which is okay, i guess) and im pretty sure its not one day.
so the whole event should be called the catholic young middle ages (according to you?) days. not same ring to it, but its more technically correct.
jessica
I SEE HIM EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO TO THE CITY. The first time I saw him was on my birthday “Are you asians?” Yeah…we are.
AND I WISH I WAS A REGISTERED PILGRIM TOO. Pilgrims are so friendly, love them.
iluvbarney
They actually had a discussion that it should be Catholic WYD on Dateline last night. But yes, the Pope is like a rockstar like Elvis, or JFK. Except JFK would be still alive if he had a pope mobile to stop people from assassinating him.
Jenny
LOL. I like the picture with your head cut off. I’m not Catholic and still don’t know exactly what WYD is all about.
Theresa
I went on Thursday, and it was crazy. There were all these pilgrims everywhere singing and waving their flags around. Oh, and I was in front of the crowded Apple store too, and when a group of American pilgrims passed by, they all started chanting ‘WE LOVE APPLE! WE LOVE APPLE!’. And yeh, the Pope ZOOMED by. I sat on some hard marble ledge for 1.5 hours waiting for him (it wasn’t completely boring, I consumed $10 worth of junkfood in this time), and I probably saw a 3 second glimpse of him.
Crissy
LOL. At least you saw him, if only for a split second
Yeah, cool cut off head picture. 
Jen
I’ve been wanting to avoid the crowds in the City and public transport all week, so I’ve been laying low at home — I’m not Catholic, but still, as a Christian, I don’t quite see eye to eye with the “point” of WYD. *shrug*
But the Apple store…! Where else can you walk on glass staircases so easily!
Dakota
Hey Kym. Super sorry for what I said, was just feeling a bit mad about the whole thing. - But in regard to your response, what you said makes sense. They aren’t all bad. Thanks for the compliment on my photos… Sorry for the rude introduction regarding my self, I was a bit nasty.
Cynthia
I hope everyone would wash hands before they eat.
Diseases are quite nasty. So what are pilgrims? Are they similar to the Muslim idea of traveling to Mecca once in a lifetime to see the holy thing?
RYC: I moved to the US because of the military. xP That’s about all. Haha.
Simply Precious
Hehe, that’s nice that you were able to go to that, but sorry that you only saw the pope for like a second! I actually know how that’s like…
Christina
OMG that entry made me wish I was in Australia for the holidays — I would’ve loved a packed city and especially the foreigners. I love listening to different people speak, I hope there’s still a few left when I’m back!
The powerpoint is like two holes. I’ll take a photo for you & email it when I’m back.
Is Ramen as nice as Pho?
29/07/08 — HEEEEEEEEEY
I keep commenting but they just don’t go through :/
I think I said THANK YOU for the hair straightening advice - I might do that, it’s a lotcheaper, only would it be strong enough to straighten through permed hair and at the same time create hot curls?
DO BLOG MORE
xx
Nique
Excuse my rudeness. I didn`t mean to take so long in responding! Thanks for the comment on my site. Yours is LOVELY. Aw, you got to see the pope! I bet that was exciting. I`m not Catholic, but I`m Christian [ kind of, lol ] and I suppose it`s significant. Anyway, I want to get more into church. Not that I`m a heathen now or anything, but we could all use some guidance, believer or not.
Xuan
Did the Pope kiss your forehead and bless you like he did three babies as reported on Sunrise, but then that figure somehow decreased to TWO?
By your description of the Pope ‘zooming by’, though…I’m thinking of the word “VROOM!” echoing in the air. Heh.
Apple Store! Mmm, the shiny.
As God is my witness (funny, considering I’m Atheist), I’ll never board a train congested with singing pilgrims again. Ever.
Eunice
Lmao, it’s so cool that you saw the Pope! =D
I’m glad you had a nice time =D
And I love the Apple store lmao x)
And wooh, Youth being 18 to 35? I must be an extremely young toddler, then x)
Olivia Kitty
Nice pictures… Seemed like he would have slowed down a bit!
Leximon
Howdy
I thought I should drop by and say hello
Did you make this website yourself?
Coz if you did, its very impressive
Susan
Just wanted to come say hi.
Thats so funny xD
Rita
I was about to say, “Hey in 3 years we’ll be old enough to become registered pilgrims!” but then I realised being a registered pilgrim would probably involve going to another country and being hosted by some random family who don’t even know you. ._.’
Gosh, did I tell you that there were quite a few pilgrims who were smoking the night of the ..pilgrims coming to your old school? It was so disgusting I couldn’t breathe properly. T_T
Btw, what happened to your old layout with the crazy bunny and such? It looked awesome..
But atleast this one scrolls without me having to change browsers ==’
*hug* ^w^