Pope Benedict XVI's Grand Harbour crossing on April 18 will not only be a treat for the Pontiff but will also serve as a tribute to the working class, a Curia official said yesterday.

"The Church chose Kalkara as the place the Pope will visit and leave for Valletta as this is an area where traditionally working-class families have lived. We know these families have suffered a lot through the years, and this will be the Church's tribute to their sacrifice," Mgr Charles Cordina, from the Papal visit's organising committee, said.

The Pope will be making a 20-minute trip from Kalkara via the old Customs House to the Valletta Waterfront where an hour-long activity with young people is being organised.

When visiting Malta in May 1990, Pope John Paul II also crossed the harbour in a catamaran, with various boats carrying balloons and flags accompanying him, and he had reportedly enjoyed it a lot.

The Pontiff will be crossing the harbour on the San Pawl catamaran, made available by Virtù Ferries, and will be escorted into Valletta by the colourful regatta boats.

"We feel this will be a spectacular and meaningful event, since this is not only the Pope's visit but we'll also be commemorating St Paul's arrival to Malta, who came here by boat," Fr Ray Toledo, the Archbishop's delegate for parishes and a keen boater, said. For this reason, anyone who owned seafaring craft was being invited to escort the Pope across the harbour. AFM officer Lt Col Martin Sammut said there would be a safety distance of 50 metres between the San Pawl and other boats.

Mariners who berth their craft in the Kalkara creek are being asked to remove their buoys for operations to go smoothly; anyone needing help to do so can contact the AFM on 2249 4202, Lt Col Sammut said.

When asked about the security measures being adopted, Lt Col Sammut told The Times the Pope was being treated as any other head of state, with threat assessments being carried out by the Malta Security Services and the police on a regular basis prior to the visit.

"We will act according to the threat assessment; if it is not high we will not go overboard with security," Lt Col Sammut said. Land operations will be coordinated by the police, while sea operations will be handled by the AFM.

This will undoubtedly be the greatest event to be held in the small town and mayor Michael Cohen said Kalkara was very eager to receive the Pope.

The event will see both Kalkara's bands uniting to play ahead of the Popemobile's arrival to the 3,000-soul town at 4.45 p.m. where a special barge running across the quay will be set up for the Pope and his cortege to be able to interact with those present.

The organisers said two emergency centres housing the police, the Civil Protection Department and the Health Department will be set up; the parish hall will be used as a temporary emergency hall in anticipation of the huge gathering expected on the day. Meanwhile, residents will have to keep clear of the quay on Kalkara Creek the night before, as it will be closed in preparation for the event.

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