World Youth Day Sydney 2008 Report by Anna Weaver
‘Benny, Benny! Oi, oi, oi!’
SYDNEY
Pick a cheer, any cheer. Just scream it at the top of your lungs.
Here are just some of the chants proclaimed by enthusiastic World Youth Day pilgrims heard around Sydney during World Youth Day.
- “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!”
- “Benny, Benny, Benny! Oi, oi, oi!” (a papal variation on the above)
- “We love Jesus, yes we do! We love Jesus, how about you?”
- “USA, USA, USA!”
- “Viva il Papa!”
- “Benedicto!”
And many cheers in foreign languages
Spontaneous outbreaks of the World Youth Day 2008 theme song, “Receive the Power” were also frequently heard. Other common spectacles were the many spur-of-the-moment dance, singing and music-playing circles forming on the sidewalks and public places in Sydney.