Archbishop Cremona to take St Paul's relic to Australia

Archbishop Paul Cremona will embark on a pastoral visit to Australia on July 5 accompanied by a delegation of 40 young people who will participate in this year's World Youth Day activities.

The delegation will be taking with them the relic of St Paul's arm, from St Paul Shipwrecked church in Valletta, to mark the Pauline Year.

Mgr Cremona said he will be taking this opportunity to visit emigrants Down Under, and will stay on until July 29, visiting Maltese communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Mackay, among others. He will also call on the Australian High Commissioner and various religious leaders.

"I would like to meet the Maltese, wherever they are, and I want to be introduced to the Australian realities," he told a press conference yesterday.

In 2005, 600 young Maltese people took part in the World Youth Day activities in Cologne, but due to financial reasons this year's delegation, which includes four priests, had to be cut down to 45.

The young people are representatives of parishes, groups and associations, and the aim of the delegation is to strengthen each other's faith and evangelise with the people they meet.

The activities, which include festivals, concerts, pilgrimage walks and Masses, are being organised by the Vatican in Sydney and will culminate with the visit by Pope Benedict XVI on July 15-20.