Operational plans for World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) have this week received the thumbs up from the Vatican body that oversees preparations.

The plans cover 23 separate events during the WYD08 week from 15 - 20 July next year, including some events in the presence of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The largest event will be the Final Mass for an estimated 500,000 people at Randwick Racecourse and nearby Centennial Parklands.

Coordinator of WYD08 Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, said members of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) were briefed on 17,000 pages of plans.

"The PCL were extremely positive and even made some helpful suggestions," Bishop Fisher said from Rome.

"We now have a final blueprint for staging the world's biggest youth event in Sydney next year."

Bishop Fisher said that indications were that WYD08 will meet its target of 125,000 international visitors.

"We are very pleased with the level of international interest shown to date.

"The largest source countries at this point are the United States, Italy and Germany."

Organised by the Catholic Church, but open to all, World Youth Day helps young people build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.

It will mark a spiritual rejuvenation of many young Catholics and Christians as well as the Australian Catholic Church.

Sydney will host the 23rd World Youth Day next year. The event - hosted by the Catholic Church, but open to all - will mark the first visit to Australia by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Only 215 days to go to WYD08!