Papal visit likely to impact 2028 Sydney spring carnival

Pope Leo XIV is expected to visit Sydney in early October 2028 as part of the 54th International Eucharistic Congress, with Randwick racecourse identified as a likely venue for a major public Mass.

The visit would mark the first papal tour of Australia in 20 years, following Pope Benedict XVI’s trip for World Youth Day in 2008.

Randwick hosted the final Mass of World Youth Day in July 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI addressed an estimated crowd of several hundred thousand people.

The racecourse has also previously hosted Pope John Paul II, who celebrated Mass at Randwick during his 1995 visit to Sydney for the beatification of Mary MacKillop.

John Paul II earlier used Randwick during his 1986 Australian tour.

Church and government planners are expected to coordinate scheduling and logistics around the spring racing calendar should Randwick again be used for papal events in 2028.

It’s understood Saturday, September 30, of the October long weekend that year, has been mentioned as an option for a papal Mass in Sydney.

That would force the Australian Turf Club to shift its traditional Epsom Handicap meeting but the racecourse is expected to be available for the $20 million Everest fixture a fortnight later.