Pope expected to visit Malta - Archbishop's comments
The Pope is expected to make a one-day visit to Malta in April, informed sources said today.
The Curia confirmed that Dr Alberto Gasbarri, who is responsible for Papal trips, will be visiting Malta next month to explore the possibility of a Papal visit. The government welcomed the announcement on behalf of the people.
It will be Pope Benedict's first visit to Malta and follows a formal invitation by President George Abela during his visit to the Vatican in June.
The highlight of the Pope's visit is to be Mass on the Granaries in Floriana.
His visit will be held to mark the 1950th anniversary of the arrival of St Paul in Malta.
Dr Abela said during his Vatican visit that 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'."
Pope John Paul II visited Malta in 1990 and again in 2001, the latter for the beatification of three Maltese.
CURIA STATEMENT
The Curia in a statement this morning said that Dr Alberto Gasbarri will be visiting Malta in October to explore the possibility of a Papal visit. on the occasion of the 1950th anniversary of St Paul’s shipwreck.
It recalled how His holiness had been invited to visit Malta by the President and the Bishops of Malta.
"The Bishops of Malta would like to encourage the faithful to pray for the Maltese islands to be blessed with a visit by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI."
GOVERNMENT WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT
The government in a statement welcomed the announcement of Dr Gasbarri’s visit
“On behalf of the people of Malta and Gozo, the government welcomes the announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will visit Mata, after Pope John Paul II visited Malta twice and was also here on a stopover during his trip to another country.”
The Curia said Pope Benedict XVI has made twelve Apostolic Visits outside Italy. In September this year, His Holiness will visit the Czech Republic.
The first Pope to visit Malta was John Paul II in May 1990. Held between the 25th and 27th May, this visit was the Pope’s 48th Apostolic Trip outside Italy in the first 12 years of his Pontificate.
On the 8th May 2001, His Holiness visited Malta once again as part of his Pauline pilgrimage during which he also visited Greece and Syria. On the second and last day of his visit, His Holiness beatified Dun Ġorġ Preca, Nazju Falzon and Adeodata Pisani.
The Curia recalled how in 1960, major celebrations were also held in Malta to mark that special anniversary of St Paul's visit. According to tradition, St Paul was shipwrecked in Malta in 60 A.D.
Last year, Pope Benedict XVI declared a year dedicated to Saint Paul, known as the Pauline Year. In Malta, the diocese of both Malta and Gozo organised various initiatives during which the faithful were encouraged to reflect on Saint Paul. To end the Pauline Year, Pope Benedict XVI sent his delegate to Malta, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, to preside over the Eucharistic celebration held outside St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
"St. Paul’s shipwreck in Malta is of utmost importance to all Christians, particularly to the Maltese since it is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 28, 1-2: “Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was called Malta. The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness.”
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Kurt Mifsud
Sep 15th 2009, 01:18
I am no gay but I never expressed any hatred in this way towards them...
"But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered. When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the Church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase." - Ratzinger
Kurt Mifsud
Sep 15th 2009, 01:14
@edwin formosa
Gieli gejt iddiskriminat ghat-twemmin tieghek? Ghax jien iva hajti kollha f'dan il-pajjiz, sa karriera ppruvaw jirrovinawli fosthom qassisin u ghalliem tar-religjion! Wara kollox kulhad ghandu dritt ghal opinjoni u l-opinjoni tieghi u ta hafna ohrajn hija differenti minn tieghek u tajjeb taccettaha.
Richard galea
Sep 14th 2009, 23:40
We should all unite to the advent of our Pope visit to Malta. Maybe we should build a church on the opera site in Valletta, and dedicated it to our San George Prega....It would be a moving sight to see our German Holy Father laying the foundation stone.
I have no doubt that both our political parties would endorse this idea.
P Debono
Sep 14th 2009, 18:52
I urge the Pope to consider going on a round-Malta cruise so that all of our horrible roads will finally be repaired!
Roberta Bugeja
Sep 14th 2009, 15:59
Dear Mr. J Farrugia
how dare you say "your poor rotten souls" and not "our". If you think you're perfect you're the first one to have a rotten soul!!!! ....and if yours is my isn't!!! THANKS!
James De Giorgio
Sep 14th 2009, 13:28
We look forward to welcoming the Pope to Malta next year then!
I call on my fellow countrymen to show off their hospitality, friendly spirit, and all in all infectous enthusiasm. Those who aren't happy needen't go out to welcome the Pope.
But please allow the rest of us to enjoy welcoming the Pope ashore!
M Agius
Sep 14th 2009, 13:14
Some of the comments below are hillarious and sad at the same time. Because they reflect the way things go about in our country. Do we have to wait for an important foreigner to take care of our country? It seems that the material problems are more at heart than the spiritual ones... and finally I do not want to be included in 'On behalf of the people of Malta and Gozo, the government welcomes the announcement' catholic believers would have been more appropiate. It does not really make a difference for me if the Pope is in Malta or in the Vatican.
Joe Xuereb
Sep 14th 2009, 10:57
I rather resent being called a pauper spirit.
The Maltese are very well prepared for the 'operation'. The anaesthetic, the ether, works best in the rarified air that is Malta.
J.Farrugia. I guess you would describe me as a 'pauper spirit'. Careful now! You might have to swallow your words. In any case, you are entitled to your opinion. But remember, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Road and routes are indeed metaphorical. A rotten road is not worth repairing. Take a road less travelled. It is called Reality Street. Runs parallel to Quality Street (like the chocolate confection but less gooey, less sick-making). The two streets are interchangeable. But veer well clear of the road most travelled, the one with the potholes and pitfalls. And snares and blind alleys too. Take this road MOST travelled and you will arrive at journey's end bedraggled, short-changed, still anaesthesised, dead frustrated, dead worried, with not a hint of gratitude shown for your efforts. Bring on the pauper spirits. They will light the way.
Robert Cassar
Sep 14th 2009, 10:29
And who will pay for this visit? Is it the Maltese already crippled tax payers?
We are in a recession and the government should concentrate on how to solve this issue!
martin borg
Sep 14th 2009, 08:19
Time to bring out our halos and start polishing them.
Franco Tabone
Sep 13th 2009, 23:57
Once an Italian couple from Milan told me that when ever the Pope accepts to visit a country, a team from the Vatican visit the place before to collect money for the Pope visit. I hope with the recession the Vatican will give the Maltese people a discount.
nathaniel camilleri
Sep 13th 2009, 19:20
let the road works begin!!!
edwin formosa
Sep 12th 2009, 19:03
Some bloggers never lose a chance to show their anti catholic hatred believing and interpreting statements in their own way. Even The Vicar of Christi visit to Malta disturbs them. They evolved from the 'lost sheep' state to the militant 'anti-anything and anyone catholic' phase.
Martin Spiteri
Sep 12th 2009, 18:29
This is very welcoming news since we maltese are so keen on such manifestations. What worries me is how our ecclesiastical authorities will adorn our granaries. I hope they wont repeat the same ice cream parlour we had way back in 1990 in pinks blues and grey . I think we should look at the way other countries host him and try a touch of elegent furnishings. This should be a shower for our ecclesiastics to start shaping up their latin and hopefully some beautiful sacred music. I am particularly keen to see a very dignified service since we will be watched by all the christian world.
Sandro Agius
Sep 12th 2009, 16:11
The Vicar of Christi is always welcomed on our shores...maybe many will not change yet its still another occasion offered to our by our Lord Jesus to again re-encounter our faith that we are lossing gradually because of relativism and its errors.
C.Sammut
Sep 12th 2009, 15:19
@C.Busuttil... I never for a moment expected the Pope to thwart his beliefs and teachings... hence this visit! But he should be made aware of his lost sheep's sufferings!
Robert Scullion
Sep 12th 2009, 13:42
With any luck, the Pope might actually admonish the population who still harbour racist hatred to anything un-Maltese ... though I doubt it
Chev Chris Galea
Sep 12th 2009, 12:50
Yes, this is really good news. Is there any chance of the Pontiff visiting the island of Gozo?
Dylan Olliver
Sep 12th 2009, 12:26
Wonderful news. You are very welcome your holiness. Hopefully your visit will strengthen our Christian faith. God bless you.
C.Busuttil
Sep 12th 2009, 11:48
This is great news, I hope he will take the oppurtunity to reprimand those that like to distort and adjust the teaching of the Lord according to their needs. What the Pope will say will not go down well with some, it will be not music for their ears. Be sure that he will be described a taliban, old and out of touch and living in the middle ages.
@C. Sammut
The Pope will meet any one if he could, but don't expect that he would change anything to accommodate any particular group, even if he's the Pope he has to follow what Christ said, besides fortunately he's guided by the Holy Spirit and therefore will not take any decisions simply to be popular.
Alfred Hili
Sep 12th 2009, 11:47
Nothing brings me closer to the Lord than thanking, praising and worshiping Him. Welcome to Malta Pope Benedict.
Dr Sandro Vella
Sep 12th 2009, 10:31
Welcome to the the Successor of St Peter in the islands of St Paul!
James Farrugia
Sep 12th 2009, 10:24
@J.Farrugia
"His only care will be to save your poor rotten souls."
Christianity is so touchingly beautiful.
"Why didn't you ask if the Maltese people are spiritually prepared for such visits? I say no....Lord have mercy on these pauper spirits."
Smite! Smite! Smite! Smite everyone!—so that the souls of the holy will go to heavan unmolested by these pauper spirits!
Roads, like paths, have metaphorical meanings...it would be better to take a look at the metaphorical pathways of life Mr.Farrugia, rather than condemn everyone else who does not share your illumed-pious illusions of popes.
'Let him who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.' It seems that he has been proven wrong!
claire farrugia
Sep 12th 2009, 10:19
Dr Alberto Casbarri
we are one of the most Catholic countries in the whole of europe, if the pope doesn't visit us for the anniversary of st pauls' shipwreck, we will be VERY disappointed......most people have books of his theology in Malta and it woudl be a big gain for us to have him here, so please , please please encourage him to come.
Dillon Bugeja
Sep 12th 2009, 09:58
Clearly, from these statements small minds also think alike!! We welcome with joy and prayer the Vicar Christ, the link between what it was and what will always be!!!
G Pace
Sep 12th 2009, 09:50
@ Galea L and Colin Camilleri!!
Are those your thoughts on when a pope visits a country??
I think that your wrong!!!
Let we pray for this one day visit for many blessing from God and also from this visit a man(even one) converts and reunites with GOD!!
C.Sammut
Sep 12th 2009, 09:44
I bet the importance of the family and not falling to sin, will be harped on us, as a stint to shelf the divorce debate once again! I hope he finds time to meet pro divorce couples...
C Micallef
Sep 12th 2009, 09:38
Hope Pope comes on a weekend day so as not to close schools for another holiday!
James Green
Sep 12th 2009, 09:38
PLEASE your Holiness, not one day, there is so much to see here. You need at least a week to savour all that Malta has to offer.
And Maltese always warmly welcome FOREIGN heads of state as invariably most road construction/maintenance coincidentally happens prior to such visits.
J Farrugia
Sep 12th 2009, 09:36
Is this all you bloggers have to say about the Pope's visit? As if the Pope will care if any roads are fixed or not.His only care will be to save your poor rotten souls. And he has to labour hard since you have a tough hide to save. Why didn't you ask if the Maltese people are spiritually prepared for such visits? I say no. We are at an all time low with priests chastising each other, other priests loosing their way through the earthly voyage, the Pope certainly has much to say t call us to order. Lord have mercy on these pauper spirits.
alfred agius
Sep 12th 2009, 09:33
It is best if primarily we do our best to repair the ways that lead from our hearts towards the ways of the Almighty on a permanent basis, rather than wiling away our time bothering about material ways constructed with mediocre materials that last perhaps one winter season.
edward bartolo
Sep 12th 2009, 09:05
This is a clear sign, that notwithstanding our small size, we as a nation, count for this Pope.
Galea. L
Sep 12th 2009, 09:00
Good news for us because roads will be repaired.
Any bets that we are going to have an election next year?
Colin Camilleri
Sep 12th 2009, 08:51
Good news! Lets start repairing the roads. May be till then the stretch where the pope will be driven through will be completed!