Swiss flag

SWITZERLAND with Philipp Wilhelm

Philipp Wilhelm from Lucerne from Switzerland arrived in Sydney last week. Originally from Bavaria in Germany, the country of the Pope, he has been living in Switzerland for the last 12 years.

1. What's the connection between WYD, your country (Switzerland, bitte) and you?

World Youth Day allows us to experience how universal our Catholic Church is – and to receive the power to grow in faith and bring it to those who may still lack it.

Living in a country where it is not easy to meet young practising Catholics and where the Catholic faith is often attacked in the media, I especially appreciate the visibly living faith aspect that is expressed through this gigantic pilgrimage of young faithful Catholics from all over the world.

The idea of the WYDs has inspired me actually in 2004 to set up the first international networking website for faithful Catholics, VaticanFriends.com , when Pope John Paul II visited Switzerland for a local catholic Youth Day.

2. How many pilgrims are coming to Sydney from Switzerland?

There are about 200 pilgrims coming to Sydney with official groups from the German speaking parts of Switzerland, and I estimate that there at least another 200 will be attending from the French and Italian parts of the country.

Since Australia is almost the most remote location at the other side of the globe, many more pilgrims will participate at home through the internet, via TV, or in locally organised world youth day events.

3. What are some of the main Dioceses, cities, and groups represented?

Switzerland has the six dioceses Basel, Chur, Lausanne-Geneva-Fribourg, Lugano, St. Gallen, and Sion.

And I'm sure there will be pilgrims from all of them coming to Sydney.

4. Will your country be represented in the 'Papal Plate' WYD Soccer Competition?

Switzerland has just hosted the European soccer championships in June, so I guess the fact that Switzerland is not represented in the WYD Soccer Competition might be due to a 'soccer overdose'.

5. Is your country having a National Gathering at WYD and if so, when and where is it on?

There are several national gatherings at world youth day in Switzerland. One of the most interesting ones will be in the midst of the Swiss Alps, organised by Dominican sisters, at Cazis . (Check the hyperlink!)

6. Are there any migrants from your country living in Australia – if so how many?

I haven't  met any yet – but I imagine that when it comes to eating chocolate, everybody in Australia is admitting a certain 'Swiss heritage'.

7. Any National Foods of interest?

Next to chocolate, Switzerland is famous for its good cheese. One of the national foods is fondue, which exists in many variants as cheese or also as chocolate fondue.

8. Any National Pass-Times of interest?

Last weekend, there was the national Swiss joddeling festival in my home town Lucerne, with over 100,000 participants – so you can see that joddeling is not a cliché but really practiced. Check out this link: http://www.jodlerfestluzern.ch/ Next to that, Switzerland is for instance also famous for tennis and ice curling.

9. Describe your country in three words?

Chocolate, cheese, banks.

10. What little souvenirs will your country's pilgrims bring to WYD to share their nationality with other pilgrims?