Pell hopes to lure Pope to Melbourne
Sept 28, 2005
The Pope may be persuaded to come to Melbourne during his Australian visit to the Catholic World Youth Day celebrations in 2008, Cardinal George Pell said yesterday.
(Harald Sun, 03sep05) "If there were some good reason which could be devised to convince the Holy Father to come to Melbourne, I think it would be a good idea," Cardinal Pell said.
"I'd be happy to co-operate with the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, and if there is anything I can do to facilitate it, I certainly will."
World Youth Day in Sydney is expected to draw between 800,000 and a million young Catholics from around the world, in an event that will rival the Olympics in size.
Cardinal Pell said he would like to see his old home town share the Pope's visit.
He was speaking after being made a Companion of the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Pell hopes to lure Pope to Melbourne