With the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne now closed, a group of Hispanic Australian youths from Sydney have expressed their hope that the event will see some improvements when it is held in their city in 2008.
The group of youths admitted they felt a little scared at times walking through the overcrowded streets and train stations.
“I got really scared in the station,” said Erica Reyna, 22, a Salvadoran-Australian, reported Catholic Online. “They were crowding so many people onto the platforms, and pilgrims were pushing you all over the place,” he said.
“Trains kept rushing past at top speed, especially the fast ICE trains that did not stop in Cologne. I was very worried that I would get pushed onto the rail tracks,” he said.
Mr Reyna expressed his belief that the Sydney public transport system would cope better but said of Cologne’s that “they just didn’t have enough space available to cater to such masses”.
He also criticised the papal Mass site at Marienfeld for its lack of control and supervision over the thousands of youth who took part in the event.
“During Mass, people were lighting up cigarettes, and I also saw some drinking beer. This kind of stuff really interferes with your ability to concentrate on prayer, and it shouldn’t happen.”
He added: “Perhaps in Sydney we can somehow make sure that [staff] are on site to remind people that this is a gathering of spiritual magnitude and not just a party to come and have a good time at.”
