THE Vatican has spurned NSW Police security advice and will this morning announce that the Pope plans to stand in the open on the steps of Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral for a World Youth Day event. Police had advised the Vatican to stay quiet regarding the plan for Benedict XVI to preside over a re-enactment of the Last Supper, one of the Catholic Church's stations of the cross.
The forecourt of St Mary's is unfenced and it is thought the police remain concerned about possible assassination attempts.
A World Youth Day spokeswoman would not comment on the Pope's security, but it is understood the cordon around the pontiff has been tightened since he was mentioned in Osama bin Laden's latest audio message earlier this year.
The Vatican's announcement comes after the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies yesterday announced it had "some serious concerns" about certain stations-of-the-cross scenes scheduled to be staged across Sydney on July 18, two days before the massive papal mass at Randwick Racecourse.
Fears that some of the scenes could give rise to anti-Semitic feelings have already been discussed at length by the church and the board of deputies. In response, the church has reduced the stations of the cross to eight from 14, yet the board of deputies remains concerned about the event plans.
"We've accommodated them where appropriate, but we're unable to change the New Testament," a World Youth Day spokesman said.
"Ultimately, we're acknowledging that Christ was crucified for and by all sinners."
The re-enactment of the Last Supper, to be attended by the Pope on the steps of St Mary's Cathedral, will show Jesus, Judas and the apostles sitting at a long covered table laden with food and wine.
The Pope will read a prayer, and then lead the pilgrims in a recitation of "Our Father", before descending to the crypt of St Mary's (accompanied by a select group of journalists) to watch the remaining stations of the cross on television.
According to the World Youth Day website, the stations-of-the-cross event "is a prayerful re-enactment of the last days of Jesus's life".
The event is considered to be one of the highlights of World Youth Day, "a live theatrical and devotional event which will be held in the afternoon".
The "stations" will be seen around Sydney at venues including the Opera House forecourt, the Domain and Darling Harbour.
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