SYDNEY (AFP) — Pope Benedict XVI will cruise Sydney's famous harbour as part of his official welcome to Australia's biggest city in July, organisers said Monday.
The head of the Roman Catholic church will tour the harbour on a 63-metre (208-foot), three-storey cruise ship, which will be accompanied by 12 other boats, as part of his July 17 welcome to Sydney.
The pope will make his first visit to Australia as pontiff to take part in the July 15 to 20 World Youth Day which is designed to bring young people from around the world together to learn about the Catholic faith.
Sydney World Youth Day coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher said he expected more than 100,000 people to line the harbour to greet the pope who will alight at Darling Harbour.
"We're yet to settle exactly where on the boat he'll be but I think that we can be confident that all of Sydney will get to see him," he said.
"He'll also get to drive in the popemobile when this is over in a motorcade through the city," he said.
"People will see him in both situations but this is a spectacular kind of popemobile," he added of the cruise ship, which has undergone some security modifications to cater for the pontiff.
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