Sydney Goes Jerusalem for 3 Hours

In what is said by many already to be the most moving and beautifully executed Stations of the Cross ever captured live on TV, screens throughout Sydney were set up near each of the stations for at least 200,000 people (one estimate is 500,000) around the city who where locked on in silence.

From Sydney's Morning Herald:

For three hours, Sydney was transformed into the streets of ancient Jerusalem during the spectacular re-enactment of the last hours of Jesus Christ as part of a landmark event in the World Youth Day celebrations. The Last Supper of Jesus and His disciples was conducted on the steps of St Mary's Cathedral, Jesus was condemned to death at the NSW Art Gallery, whipped and scourged at the Opera House, made a spectacular entrance by barge under Sydney Harbour Bridge to Cockle Bay and was crucified at East Darling Harbour.

At the crucifixion, it was a much more solemn crowd than that which estatically welcomed the Pope to Sydney or joined the Sydney Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, for the World Youth Day opening Mass. For more of this story...

The pope said the pray for the 1st station of the cross at St. Mary's Cathedral before gracefully exiting to the crypt to watch the rest by live feed surrounded by the New South Wales police force. The final station was perfectly timed for a breathtaking sunset, as pilgrims quickly got a taste of the cold weather (46F degree low) expected for tonight's camp out at Randwick Racecourse, where half a million are estimated to attend the closing 10am Mass Sunday with the Pope.

Many are still wondering how the actor for Jesus, 27 year-old Alfio Stuto managed for 3 hours in a skin thin tunic in the cold and wind along the harbor without hypothermia, when their own fingers became numb and turned blue. It's probable that the 5 meter high wood and metal cross was heated as during the whole time he didn't shake a bit, even after being stripped down to a loin cloth by the Roman centurion and guards.

One of the most interesting stations was the "native Australian aboriginal" Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus' cross after another of this week's many dances performed by the aborigines which was incorporated into the station. They have been showcased in every event this week, even getting a smile from pope Benedict XVI on his official arrival by boat, courtesy of Sydney's Captain Cook cruise line. The aborigines playing their native instrument called the didgeridoo, what is sometimes described as a wooden trumpet or pipe has fascinated the pilgrims throughout the week.

In all it went off with a bang and ended with a respectful applause before people made a mad dash to the cloaking services to pick up their baggage in Hyde Park, where confessions, adoration of the WYD Cross and the Icon of Mary, dances, concerts, and food distribution services have been centrally located all week.

Tonight's vigil (6am EST) and tomorrow's mass (9pm EST) promise to be more than a Kodak moment for the youth from around the world, as they will experience the vibrant and universal Church in awe as the Holy Spirit descends upon the Southern Cross Province and they sing with the pope this WYD's theme song "Receive the Power".

For more pictures of WYD