Pilgrims slept in the club's auditorium in preparation for the Multicultural Youth Festival last Sunday.

The festival saw more than 5000 international and local pilgrims celebrate mass with Bishop Julian Porteous before ''a festa promoting multiculturalism and celebrating Christianity''.

''Visitors from an array of nations camped out together sharing several of the club's rooms and facilities, spending their days meeting with local patrons, singing and praying together while making their holy pilgrimage,'' a club spokeswoman said.

Fairfield MP Joe Tripodi and his wife Maria also attended mass at Marconi and will attend the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at Barangaroo on Thursday followed by the final mass at Randwick on Sunday.

The international pilgrims left the club on Monday for billet homes in the city in the lead up to the overnight camp at Randwick on Saturday night.

Marconi club member and Bonnyrigg Heights resident, Laura Ippolito had three of the Marconi pilgrims stay with her during the week.

''My son Daniel wanted to improve his Italian so when we heard about them through the club we invited a few to stay with us and they were just so nice,'' Mrs Ippolito said.

''Because they're very serious about being on a pilgrimage they just rolled out sleeping bags and have been a delight.''