TORONTO -- The cross has arrived here for World Youth Day, and so have thousands of young Roman Catholic pilgrims, waiting for miracles and Pope John Paul II.
"So many people were saying the pope might not come," said Christina Stachulak, 24. "But all the young people were saying, 'Of course he would come. He would do anything for us. We know because he tells us he loves us.' "
Organizers are expecting more than 350,000 people from 170 countries to converge on Toronto for World Youth Day, a gathering of young people on a pilgrimage to profess their faith. The first World Youth Day was in 1986, after the pope called on youth to join him in celebrating the church. It has since been organized in different cities about every two years.
As of Friday, 200,000 people had registered for the event here, leading some people to speculate that turnout may be lower than expected because of uncertainty about the pope's health. The pope shows signs of Parkinson's disease, including hand tremors, difficulty walking and slurred speech, and on recent trips, he has appeared particularly frail.
Vatican officials, however, have said the pope, 82, will not curtail his summer travel plans. After Canada he will visit Guatemala and Mexico, and then journey to Poland, the country of his birth, in August.
"He is viewed as a very wise man," said Peter Misiaszek, who is in charge of registration for World Youth Day. "A lot of young people . . . have respect for him. A lot of young people are making late decisions to come to World Youth Day. They are coming because they want to see the pope, and they also want to share in the fellowship with young people from all over the world."
The pope is scheduled to arrive here Tuesday and spend two days resting at Strawberry Island, a retreat about one hour north of Toronto operated by the Basilian Fathers. On Thursday, he is expected to speak at a welcoming ceremony, and Saturday he is scheduled to deliver a message at a vigil. The pontiff will celebrate Mass with approximately 1 million people on Sunday.
The week is filled with activities, including teachings, confessions and social service work. The pope is scheduled to meet with Canada's governor general, Adrienne Clarkson, and Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
The World Youth Day Pilgrim Cross, a simple wooden cross, was turned over by the Vatican to dioceses across Canada. As it made its way down lonely roads, through shopping centers and icy deserts en route to Toronto, some people waited all night to see it and cried when they touched it. Others vowed to go back to church.
"As the cross made its pilgrimage, it has touched people," said John Boissonneau, auxiliary bishop of Toronto. "The cross, like World Youth Day, draws us out. The pope draws us beyond ourselves, especially in his weakened state."
Many pilgrims on the journey here hope to influence North Americans, said the Rev. Mario Salvadori, associate pastor of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
"North America, in general, is not known for its intense practice of faith," he said. "The young people will give to us their faith. We hope their faith is infectious. The place where they converge has to be infected."
Previous World Youth Day gatherings have been in Argentina, Spain, Poland, the United States, the Philippines and France. More than 2 million people attended the 2000 gathering in Rome.
Officials here are hoping the event will help to inspire the church in Canada.
"Why did the cardinal of Toronto ask for World Youth Day to come here? He asked for it partly because of the experience in Paris" in 1997, Salvadori said. "The church there was at a weak point, and it [World Youth Day] had a dramatic impact on the church in Paris. The cardinal hopes the church will be rejuvenated."
The number of Catholics in Canada last increased in 1994, when the church grew from 12,584,789 to 12,637,006, according to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since then, the conference reported that the numbers have held steady, although some priests say fewer Catholics are attending church.
But Salvadori said the point of World Youth Day is not numbers. "If you look at the average practice rate, only 25 percent of people baptized Catholic practice on a regular basis," he said. "We are looking at inviting people who don't feel welcomed anymore back home."
Allegations of abuse, including sexual abuse, have plagued the Catholic Church in Canada for years, and Salvadori said they have hurt the church. "It has had an impact on all of us, including priests," Salvadori said.
Salvadori said he hopes the "family reunion" of young Catholics will ease the pain. "This pope is magnificent, especially given his illness," Salvadori said. "He teaches to look at things with hope."
"The kids are saying, 'But father, what if he dies?' What this pope is asking us to do is to look at things with the eyes of our souls, not just with the eyes of our head. With the eyes of our head, he looks weak. With the eyes of our souls, he is strong because spiritually, he is incredibly strong."
John Paul has been intent on carrying his papal message personally to the world since he was elected in 1978. He has visited 130 countries and encountered more than 16 million pilgrims.
This trip, some have speculated, could be his last to North America. "But there are things he wants to do. That is part of his determination. He keeps his commitments," said Boissonneau, the auxiliary bishop.
In Toronto on Saturday, as crews hurried to put last-minute touches on the stadium where the pope will speak, thousands of volunteers gathered for Mass.
Domenico Arcoraci, 26, an accountant from Sicily, said he felt an urgent need to come for World Youth Day because of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.
"It's important for me to experience this because this moment in the world is very problematic," Arcoraci said. "I'm here as a testimonial of Christ and hope. If the young people have fear of this moment of the terrorism, what kind of future can we have?"
"I'm ecstatic. I'm enthused," said Anna Stachulak, 27, a student from Rhode Island. "It's almost like I'm very, very ready to defend him, to defend his teachings. . . . I almost feel like his diplomat to show people the Catholic Church is alive and well."