Pope Leo XIV visit could disrupt Sydney Spring Racing Carnival

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

The trip would represent the first papal visit to Australia in two decades, following Pope Benedict XVI’s tour for World Youth Day in 2008.

Randwick previously hosted the closing Mass of World Youth Day in July 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI addressed a crowd estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

The racecourse has also welcomed Pope John Paul II, who celebrated Mass at the venue during his 1995 visit to Sydney for the beatification of Mary MacKillop, having earlier used Randwick during his 1986 Australian tour.

Church and government officials are expected to work alongside racing authorities to coordinate scheduling and logistics around the spring carnival should Randwick again host papal events.

It is understood that Saturday, September 30, over the October long weekend, has been discussed as a possible date for a Sydney Mass.

Such timing would require the Australian Turf Club to move its traditional Epsom Handicap meeting, although the venue is anticipated to remain available for the Everest fixture two weeks later.