While congratulating the organisers for the well-organised Pontifical Mass held in St John's Square on the occasion of the closure of the Pauline Year, I must point out a weakness.

Even though the statue of St Publius was brought all the way from Floriana for the occasion, I note with disappointment that no mention or slight reference was made to the saint during the entire ceremony, had it not been for the reading from the Acts of the Apostles (which could not have been avoided). Even the booklet distributed for the occasion did not mention the saint in any way, despite the close connection St Publius has with St Paul and Malta, and despite the fact that St Publius' statue was participating in the event.

The impression given was that St Publius' presence during the ceremony was that of a passive onlooker or undesired guest. The magnificent statue could have been referred to and used as a visual aid to re-create the setting of the meeting between St Paul and St Publius two thousand years ago - a unique occasion that was missed.

If this scene, registered in the Acts of the Apostles, disturbs the organisers the occasion should have been arranged so as to exclude St Publius completely. This would have confirmed and made official the organisers' lack of respect for our first Maltese saint.