Pope Benedict yesterday raised Maltese hopes that he would visit the island next year, on the 1950th anniversary of St Paul's shipwreck.

An invitation was extended to him by President George Abela, who was at the Vatican on his first state visit since assuming office two months ago.

Speaking to the media after their private audience, which lasted nearly half an hour, Dr Abela said he had mentioned the special anniversary to the Pope and told him it would present a unique opportunity for him to come to Malta. The reaction of the Pope, who did not seem to be aware of the anniversary, was positive, the President said. He brought the subject up again later during the audience and said that, if possible, he would keep this appointment with the Maltese.

"I asked him to at least make a one-day visit. He mentioned that the flight was only an hour long. "At the end of our audience he looked me straight in the eye and said: 'I hope to see you next year'."

The way the President couched the invitation was apposite. The Pauline Year, which ends in a few days' time, had been announced by Pope Benedict to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the saint's birth and to try and inspire Catholics to imitate the apostle's missionary spirit.

The last Papal visit to the island was by John Paul II when, following in the footsteps of St Paul, he made a pilgrimage to Greece, Syria and Malta in May 2001.

In making his first state visit a trip to the Vatican, President Abela is following in the footsteps of several of his predecessors. This fact did not go unnoticed by the Pope, who, on greeting Dr Abela outside the Papal Library, also described Malta as "a great friend of the Holy See".

In his audience, the President told him this was a tradition he wanted to keep because it confirmed the island's Christian roots and he felt it was important that heads of state continued to send this message.

The two discussed European politics and the situation in Africa, particularly in regard to the phenomenon of immigration. "The Pope knows about the problems faced by Malta. His central point was that it has to be addressed by all countries and by all European states by helping Africa," said Dr Abela.

The Pope presented the President with a gold medallion of his Pontificate. Asked afterwards about the significance of the visit in terms of his Presidency, he said it was highly significant. Recalling his speech at his inauguration - part of which he had quoted to the Pope - he said Maltese society and families were facing new challenges: "We can't have a strong society without strong families, and Christian values help us to have strong families."

Straight after the audience, the President, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, met Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Holy See. In the evening he was hosted to an official dinner in Rome by the Grandmaster and Prince of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra Matthew Festing, at Villa Malta, which is one of the residences of the Order.

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