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Visa deal boost for WYD
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| By DAMIR GOVORCIN
7 October, 2007 |
Federal Government initiatives on visas “will make it easier and more affordable for pilgrims to travel to Sydney to attend this historic event”, the Archbishop of Sydney, George Cardinal Pell, said this week.
He said the visa deal confirms the Government’s “strong support for a successful World Youth Day” in July next year.
Cardinal Pell was speaking after World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08) organisers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to help facilitate a smoother entry for pilgrims to next year’s event.
Under the Memorandum, the department will provide visas for registered pilgrims free of government charges, offer pilgrims a minimum three-month visa that will allow multiple entries, and confirm no limits on the number of visas granted overall or from a particular country.
The document was signed by the chairman of the WYD08 Local Organising Committee, Cardinal Pell, and assistant Immigration Minister Teresa Gambaro during a ceremony at Cathedral House on Wednesday.
Cardinal Pell said the document confirms the Federal Government’s “strong support for a successful World Youth Day” from July 15-20 next year.
“On current indications, we are expecting around 140,000 international visitors to attend, almost half of whom will be from the United States, Italy and Germany.
“We hope they will be drawn not only by the beauty of Sydney and Australia, but also by the opportunity to experience the life-changing impact that World Youth Days have had on millions of young people since the event was established by Pope John Paul II in 1986.”
About 300,000 people are expected to join Pope Benedict XVI in WYD services on July 19-20. Most will camp at the restructured Randwick racecourse for a night, with the spillover sleeping in Centennial Park.
World Youth Day will mark the first visit to Australia by Pope Benedict, who said he hoped the international gathering will include a renewal of the promises made at baptism and confirmation.
“Together we will invoke the Holy Spirit, asking with trust in God for the gift of a new Pentecost for the Church and for humanity in the third millennium,” the Pope said.
WYD08 organisers have welcomed a move by Qantas to put on extra flights to bring international visitors to Australia for the massive event.
The executive general manager of Qantas, John Borghetti, said the airline would operate four additional services to Australia to bring pilgrims to WYD08 – three from Rome on July 5, 8 and 12, (returning to Rome on July 21, 25 and 28), and one from Los Angeles on July 9 (returning to LA on July 23).
WYD08 chief operating officer Danny Casey said more than 200,000 pilgrims were expected to register for WYD08, including more than 140,000 from overseas.
“This decision by Qantas reflects the huge level of interest in attending World Youth Day, even 10 months out from the event,” Mr Casey said. “Almost half of the overseas interest at this point is coming from the US, Italy and Germany.”
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