Boat owners invited to escort Pope in Grand Harbour
Boat-owners are being invited to escort Pope Benedict as he crosses Grand Harbour on a catamaran on April 18 in what promises to be the most spectacular event of the forthcoming papal visit.
Mgr Charles Cordina, speaking for the organising committee, said Pope Benedict will arrive in Kalkara at 4.45 p.m. and greet the people from a barge in Kalkara creek. Kalkara, he said had been chosen as representative of the south and the blue collar workforce.
The Pope will then board the catamaran San Pawl, made available by Virtu Ferries, to cross Grand Harbour in the direction of the Old Customs House and then Valletta Waterfront.
Regatta rowers will precede the catamaran and boat-owners can form up on either side of the catamaran, although, for safety reasons, they will be kept some 50 metres away from the vessel.
Mgr Cordina said the late Pope John Paul II had spoken of how he enjoyed entering Grand Harbour on a catamaran during his first visit here 20 years ago, and it was natural that the event would be repeated as a treat to Pope Benedict.
The Pope will land at Valletta Waterfront for an hour-long meeting with young people before leaving Malta.
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James A. Tyrrell
Mar 16th 2010, 20:20
Whilst it will be a great honour for any boat owner to escort his religious leader across Grand Harbour has anyone thought about the security risks involved?
j azzopardi
Mar 16th 2010, 15:58
better tell the boat owners where are they going to moor their boats now that so many marinas took the workers moorings from xemxija , salina and so on
Louis Cutajar
Mar 16th 2010, 15:57
Min hu bla htija jitfa' hu l-ewwel gebla.
Gerald Fenech
Mar 16th 2010, 15:28
Quite a contradiction in my opinion. First Kalkara is chosen as 'a representative of the South and blue collar workers' - this could not be farther from the truth as Kalkara is a fast growing urbanized middle class area nowadays. The fact that boat owners who are undoubtedly from the higher classes of society have been asked to escort the Pope is simply another example of the Church's warped attitude to things.
G Vassallo
Mar 16th 2010, 14:04
This visit will not be credible or welcomed as long as the Church refuses to apologize and compensate the many who suffered abuse both sexually and vindictively whilst in it's care.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 16th 2010, 13:52
Show! Nothing but show!!!!!