With Papalpaloooza rolling on, there's never been a better time to revel in all things Vatican! I have managed to fly into Sydney just in time for the official kick off of World Youth Day(s!) and boy, this town just feels electric right now, you know? The kids are young, wholesome fun, and full of Christ... and occasionally quite spunky (water, water everywhere but not a drop to "tap").

I must say though, all the middle aged pilgrim dudes are kind of freaky looking, strolling the streets of the city with a weird glint in their eyes. They resemble the sort of folk who should be getting grilled by Benson and Stabler on Law & Order: SVU rather than responsible adults in charge of escorting impressionable youths around a strange town. Whatever. Why are there so many grown up pilgrims anyway? Pope groupies? It's World Youth Day, dudes. As an associate quipped this morning, "They're like Toolies!"

Moving on to other World Youth Day-related matters... I received a rather delightful email from reader Shane today, and felt I had to share it with you all.

Dear Defamer,

In between trying to choose which menu item I should go to choose a new ring tone, would it be 'Burps, Farts or Orgasms' or 'Rad Animal Sound FX' I noticed that Vodafone had given me a third choice, World Youth Day Songs!

Here's what I can choose from, unfortunately there's no 'Hole In The Sky' by Black Sabbath.

Mother Mary - Foxboro Hottubs.
Jesus Christ (chorus) - Brand New
Jesus of Suburbia - Green Day.
We Believe - Good Charlotte.
I Believe - Paulini.
You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban.
Oh God - Jamie Cullum.
Celebration - Kylie Minogue.
Get The Party Started - Pink.
You're The Voice - John Farnham.
Youth of the Nation - P.O.D
Get Together - Madonna
Chocolate Pope - Electric Six.
Are You With Me - The Potbellez.

I think they may have the right idea with a few of those artists, but they've chosen the wrong song from the back catalogue. I would have gone with:

Pink - U + UR Hand
Madonna - Like A Prayer
Electric Six - Gay Bar
Kylie Minogue - Better The Devil You Know

But that's just me. And I am an idiot.

Also - am I the only one surprised that Pope Benedict XVI didn't make amazing use of the acronym OMG in his very hip text message to Catholics?

Stay Holy, and remember - don't be a hater. This is a MAGICAL WONDERFUL EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD and anyone who disagrees should just stop dwelling crankily on sad things.

It seems Papal fever is still infecting the editors and photo editors of our country's fine digital newspapers! They just can't get enough of that sweet, sweet Catholicism!

Reader Daniel forwarded us The Age's 'Entertainment News' e-newsletter, adding, "You know, when I think of Broadway musicals and Dolly Parton, my mind also goes immediately to the Pope."

This is what he was referring to:

You know, people will say this is just the photo equivalent of a typo, but I think there's something deeper happening here - I get it, Benedict looks just like Dolly!

Top work, The Age! Keep up the Catholic cats!

All across the country, Catholics are clutching their rosary beads with excitement at the news Head Dude of the Roman Catholic Church hit our golden soil yesterday, arriving at Richmond RAAF Base in the afternoon, where he was greeted with a friendly "Welcome to Oz, fuckface!" by Prime Minister Keven Rudd (well, he probably didn't use those exact words, but who knows for sure anymore now that the PM's potty-mouth has been uncovered?).

The spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics was met by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Sydney Archbishop George Pell as he began his nine-day trip, his first here since becoming pontiff in 2005.

Pope Benedict expressed "great joy" about the visit, saying World Youth Day events had the ability to open frontiers between nations and bring cultures together.

In an official statement to the "great southern land of the Holy Spirit" he wrote that all Australians were in his thoughts.

As are the lyrics of Icehouse too, it would seem. What next, B-dog? Getting a billion people to kneel during Sunday Mass at Randwick Racecourse before theatrically using the line "On my knees, help me Jesus, tell me what can I do... electric blue" in your prayer? Stating same sex relationships are "Nothing Too Serious" and thus the entire notion of gay weddings denigrate the institution of marriage? I can't think of any more appalling Icehouse-based wordplay, but you catch my drift.

I look forward to seeing what the coming week of Catholic-mayhem brings. The fact that there's a popedownunder Twitter account, meaning we can get succinct updates regarding exactly what's happening during this Papalpalooza, is bloody brilliant.

Frankly, entries like this -

Breaking news: a kitten called 'Bella' has been brought into the Kenthurst Study Centre to help Pope Benedict feel at home

- are so amazingly stupid that it seems fairly obvious to me that the Pope is going to feature on this little ol' blog quite a bit this week.

Bring it on.

Kool & The Gang-inspired part of the post title courtesy of one-man wit machine, Swords & Sandals creator, and all round Sydney heartthrob Oliver Shirley's Facebook status update. I salute you, sir.