Grumbles grow over Pope's upcoming visit to Australia

SYDNEY (AFP) - Complaints grew Monday over the cost of Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to Australia in July for the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day, which is expected to draw some 125,000 pilgrims.

An opposition politician called on the Church to bear the brunt of the costs after it was revealed that taxpayers would contribute 86 million dollars (80 million US) towards the event in Sydney.

"The Catholic Church is the organisation that will gain the biggest benefit from this event, not the people of New South Wales," said Greens party member of the state parliament, Lee Rhiannon.

"It's a clear promotional event and, therefore, they should be footing the main part of the bill," she told national radio.

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma defended spending taxpayer money, saying it would showcase the state's capital of Sydney to a global audience while generating 150 million dollars in revenue.

"It's a huge event and it will bring many benefits to the city," Iemma told reporters.

On top of the 86 million dollars for services, such as security and traffic management, is another 42 million dollars in compensation to the Australian Jockey Club to secure the Randwick Racecourse for the papal mass on July 20.

Organisers of the July 15-20 World Youth Day event say they expect some 125,000 international visitors to come to Sydney.

The state government has warned of major traffic disruptions and local residents have been advised to leave Sydney if they can.

Catholics make up about a quarter of Australia's population of some 21 million people.

The first World Youth Day was held in Rome in 1986 and is now held in an international host city every two to three years. The last was in Cologne, Germany, in 2005.

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