Apostolic Nuncio visits Gozo

This quote from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians was the main message which new Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Mgr Tommaso Caputo, wanted to convey to Gozitans on his first visit to the island.

Mgr Caputo said he could see how beautiful and unique Gozo was; not only as regards natural beauty, but also in its potential at the service of the Lord's vineyard.

The warm welcome he received from Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, from Bishop Nikol Cauchi, from the vicar general, the clergy, seminarians and the laity, including the Gozo General Hospital director, staff and patients, really made him feel the hospitality which is legendary among the Gozitans.

"This was, for me, an expression also of their faith, which I have been entrusted by the Pope to support and to share with the Diocese of Gozo and together live that joy which is the result of being united in faith and love around the Lord," Mgr Caputo said.

His impression of the spiritual richness of the Church in Gozo was confirmed when, after an encouraging meeting with the seminarians, a fraternal meeting with the clergy followed. "Here, indeed, fraternal communion was tangible and very intense. Both the welcome address by a member of the clergy and that by Mgr Grech, reminded me of one very basic thing: that our main mission is 'to be friends of the Gospel', and my own mission is to be at the service of this communion.

"In such an atmosphere I could share what the Lord himself has done to me, and so relating a bit of my biography was, in fact, a reading of how Jesus works in the life of each one of us, through our obedience to His will.

"This was felt all the more regarding my reflection on the priesthood and our common call to live this gift in communion with each other, on the model of the Blessed Trinity: to live charity; to live the truth; to be real evangelisers when we live the transparency of the Gospel in our life.

"This is all captured when we look at Jesus on the cross, where the ­dialogue between God and man is once again possible," Mgr Caputo said.

Having had the chance to share a delicious meal at the Good Shepherd pastoral centre with the bishop, clergy and religious, he said that once again he was very much aware of the missionary potential of the diocese, where so many Gozitan priests and sisters were spreading the Good News. "May this fervour never stop and the flow of missionaries continue," he said.

Visiting Gozo General Hospital, Mgr Caputo said he was deeply touched by the simple faith and serenity in suffering by the patients and the dedication of the medical and nursing staff. The patients' relatives, too, showed that love for their bishop and priests born out of a deep faith and respect.

The climax of his visit was the solemn Mass concelebrated with the cathedral chapter and clergy at the cathedral.

At the end of Mass, Mgr Caputo was given a painting of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu. He said he will hang the painting in his office at the Nunciature. "I feel Our Lady's protecting hand over me and my mission here in Malta and Gozo," he said.