It seems that both John Howard and Kevin Rudd, leaders of their respective parties, have made a pledge of $15 million to the World Youth Day (WYD) event which is going to be held in Sydney.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that after meeting with Sydney Catholic Archbishop George Pell on Friday, he had made this funding commitment.
Mr Rudd, the Opposition Leader, confirmed the same financial commitment of $15 million to be granted to host WYD, telling the Daily Telegraph that it was a 'life-time opportunity for the people of Australian.'
The WYD is the largest youth event in the world which is organised by the Catholic Church so young people from around the world can gather to build bridges of friendship and hope with each other, touted its website.
Pope Benedict XVI announced that Sydney, Australia was chosen to host the WYD in 2008 during the conclusion of the WYD in Cologne in August 2005.
The timeline of the event will be from the 15th to the 20th July in 2008, where it is expected that hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will attend.