“While its size will make it impressive, we’ve taken great care to ensure the sanctuary will also be a sacred liturgical space. It will establish the perfect atmosphere for prayer, adoration and reflection,” said WYD08 Coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher OP.

Measuring 30 metres by 40 metres, the roof to the sanctuary was raised yesterday by building contractors who are preparing Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse for World Youth Day.

It sits 25 metres off the ground and 17 metres above the floor of the sanctuary - the structure where the altar will be located.

The sanctuary will accommodate 500 cardinals and bishops, a 300-strong WYD08 choir and an 80-piece orchestra.

The final details are soon to be added also, with iconic Australian design elements ready to be applied, such as ‘Marjorie’s Bird’ - an Indigenous painting depicting the Holy Spirit by Tiwi Islander artist Marjorie Liddy.

Over 200,000 pilgrims are expected to assemble for the Evening Vigil after the Pilgrimage Walk from North Sydney, across Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Southern Cross Precinct on Saturday (19 July).

The number of these pilgrims who attend the Papal Vigil and ‘sleep under the stars’ that night, are expected to double for the Papal Motorcade at 9am the next day (20 July) to be followed by the Final Mass with the Pontiff.

“We expect 225,000 pilgrims to sleep out on site afterwards [after the Evening Vigil (Saturday 19 July)] – that’s more people than the entire population of the Northern Territory,” said WYD08 Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey.

“When they awake, the Holy Father will return for the Final Mass, and we expect the overnight population will double in the morning as Sydney-siders arrive to take their places in the racecourse and Centennial Park,” he said.

Mr Casey said all construction work on the racecourse was carried out strictly in line with measures approved by the Australian Jockey Club (AJC), the NSW Government and WYD08.

“We rely on the AJC to advise our contractors on any works in or around a racing or training surface. We always operate in accordance with agreed protocols.”

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