Archbishop Joseph Mercieca said yesterday he hoped the people would open their hearts wide enough to Christ so that Pope Benedict XVI would find genuine support and co-operation in his efforts to bring about unity among Christ's followers.

In his homily during a Mass of thanksgiving at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta for the election of the Pope, Mgr Mercieca said the people renewed their promise to the Pope to follow him with their prayers, love, obedience and faithfulness.

He said that both Catholics and non-Catholics had welcomed the new Pope's declared intention to work hard for the rebuilding of unity among Christ's followers.

He hoped his work would move consciences enough for the necessary progress to take place.

Archbishop Mercieca observed that Pope Benedict had said that his programme was not to carry out his own will or follow his ideas but to listen, together with the Church, to the word and will of the Lord, be guided by the Lord so that it would be the Lord Himself who would administer the Church at this moment in history.

Mgr Mercieca said that this programme should be everyone's programme.

On Christ's example, one had to work hard to get the people out of the desert of human sufferings, to help them live the true life in the love of the Son of God.

In his homily at the start of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI had strongly and convincingly called on everyone, especially the young, not to fear Christ because Christ did not take anyting away but gave everything - true life.