THEY are the Catholic priests leading you (not) into temptation in the lead-up to next month's World Youth Day in Sydney. According to organisers, the 12 heavenly creatures featured in this year's Calendario Romano have no official affiliation with the five-day festival, but that didn't stop them using the black-and-white images to publicise the event yesterday.
Featuring photos taken over the past three years, an accompanying blurb says the wall calendar, which sells for $22.99, was in fact created to entice American visitors to Rome.
"Aimed at promoting tourism in the Italian capital, this striking calendar offers portraits of its priests against the backdrops of the Eternal City's most beautiful cathedrals," the statement reads.
But in news sure to disappoint lovestruck female pilgrims worldwide, World Youth organisers yesterday admitted they were unsure whether any of the featured priests were preparing to make the journey to Sydney for the festival.
However they did confirm they were on track to meet their target of 225,000 overseas and Australian participants for the event, in which Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to Australia.
Sydneysiders who did not wish to register their attendance beforehand were told they might still be able to take part in a Mass offered by the Pontiff on July 20.
The celebration is expected to attract about 500,000 to Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park.
WYD Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey said the racecourse would hold a capacity crowd of 300,000 people, leaving an estimated 75,000 tickets available to people who had not registered as pilgrims.
Large video screens would be erected in nearby Alison Rd and Centennial Park, allowing the other 200,000 people to see the Pope.
"We plan to distribute tickets on a 'first-come, first-serve' basis, based on the remaining capacity at Randwick," Mr Casey said.
"We anticipate many more than 75,000 will turn up on the day."
NSW Government World Youth Day spokesman Kristina Keneally said locals who wanted to see the Pope should use an event planner on the festival's official website.
The online tool contains information about all road closures, public transport options and even public vantage points.
The Pope will make his official arrival on Sydney Harbour, by "papal boat-a-cade", on July 17.
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