Sydney transformed itself into ancient Jerusalem as Catholics re-enacted Jesus Christ’s final days before hundreds of thousands of live spectators and an estimated global TV audience of millions. The three-hour biblical epic, known as Stations of the Cross, formed one of the centrepieces of the church’s week-long World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations being attended by Pope Benedict XVI. The pontiff, reportedly “knocked out” by the warmth of his reception in Australia, was on hand to watch the opening scene, The Last Supper, at St Mary’s Cathedral today. The unfolding drama then moved to five more iconic city landmarks, including the NSW Art Gallery, the Domain and the Opera House, taking Christ’s message into the hearts of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and Sydney’s sunny winter beauty into loungerooms around the world.

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The climactic scene, Christ’s crucifixion at Barangaroo at dusk, was the crowning moment of an “unbelievable journey” for 27-year-old Alfio Stutio Jr, from Sydney’s Homebush. The actor playing the central role felt “unworthy to be up there” in the early days of what proved to be four months of “mentally and emotionally exhausting” rehearsals. “Then I thought to myself I’m serving God here,” he said, and his faith carried him through. Cardinal George Pell, the leader of Australia’s five million Catholics and the Pope’s host in Sydney, described the re-enactment as a potentially life-changing experience for pilgrims from more than 170 countries.