Ray Azzopardi, Marsascala
True welcome for Christ's representative
It has been reported in the local media that the civil authorities are doing their utmost to make sure that Pope Benedict XVI is given a stately welcome as any other head of state. This is expected and recommended. But as a Catholic and one who believes that the Pope, as a successor of Peter and the visible Head of the Church, has been appointed by Christ Himself to represent Him on earth, I would like us Christians to take this opportunity to renew our faith and to welcome our Pope, not only as a head of state but mostly and more importantly as our Spiritual Leader who represents Christ on earth.
Let us with open hearts and minds listen to his message and receive the special graces that Jesus will be showering on each one of us through His representative. Today, more than ever, we have to publicly show that we still believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as it was founded by Christ Himself in spite of the latest scandals of some of its ministers. Because man is human, weak and prone to sin he will go on erring, but because Christ is holy, full of mercy and compassionate He will go on sanctifying His Church and will remain with it till the end of times.
Let us, therefore, as firm believers in Christ and His teachings, look at the Pope for what he is and whom he represents. When greeting him let us not simply be onlookers and gaze as tourists but, as firm believers, let our outward manifestation represent our inward belief.
Yes, let us pray for our nation that together with all its achievements, our faith, which St.Paul through God's providence brought to our islands, will be the most important trademark that distinguishes us from other nations.
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Russ Grant
Mar 25th 2010, 16:46
it's ridiculous that this visit is costing 750,000 euros, and irresponsible. that oney should be donated to charity especially towards the 14% of maltese on the brink of poverty. Surley that is a more Christian thing to do rather then pay for this fool to talk rubbish. this is the man who condemned the use of ontreception in Africa and called gay people intrinsically evil.
Carmel Serracino-Inglott
Mar 25th 2010, 15:58
I 100% agree with you Ray, Let us shout with joy that His Holiness is coming to visit us , we who are nothing but sinners. Forgive us Lord and thank you for everything. We Catholics believe that our POPE is the representative of Christ on this earth. So to say let us 'postpone Palm Sunday and greet our dear POPE with shouts of Hosanna. Let us wave the flag of our Holy Church and pray for everybody who ever he might be. Long live the POPE.
joseph cachia
Mar 25th 2010, 12:47
RAY
CHRIST movements between villages was welcomed with open arms by his followers
Same as we are to welcome the POPE as representative of our church who represent
CHRIST teachings and LIFE. (?)
CHRIST, no doubt , would have (and he did) asked and ordered his followers to share
any prepared food with others short of a meal.
Therefore, to folow CHRIST teaching - life and examples, our POPE should ask the church
and country to make do with the least for the visit and provide the bonanza to any country children in poverty
N.Lawrence
Mar 25th 2010, 11:58
The Pope is a catholic.
Jesus Christ was a Jew. He existed for the Jewish cause. He cared NOT for gentiles. So how can one assume that Christ would appoint a Catholic as his successor?
renald williams
Mar 25th 2010, 11:40
Only Christ the Lord and God; is the Rock of the Church in the New Testament, and no other human being … peace and health to all…
Gesu’… staqsa lid-dixxipli … Min ighidu n-nies illi Jiena, Bin il-Bniedem, Jien? … U Xmun Pietru… qal: Inti l-Kristu, Bin Alla l-haj.
U wiegeb Gesu’ … U jien nghidlek: Li inti Pietru [in Greek petros – means a stone which can be moved], u fuq din il-BLATA [in Greek petra – means a rock which cannot be moved] nibni l-knisja tieghi. Mattew 16:13-18.
Kull min jigi lejja [the Lord], u jisma’ kliemi, u jaghmilhom, nurikom lil min jixbah. Jixbah lil ragel li bena dar, u haffer ‘l isfel, u qieghed is-sisien fuq IL-BLAT… Luqa 6:47-48.
Kif inhu miktub… BLATA [the Lord] ta’ tigrif: u kull min jemmen fih m’ghandux mniex jisthi. Rumani 9:33.
Il-BLATA kienet Kristu. 1 Korintin 10:4.
(Jesus Christ)… U gebla ta’ tigrif, u BLATA ta’ tfixkil... 1 Pietru 2:8….
Unfortunately: a Particular Christian church; removes from its Bible, parts of these important words, found in Greek and written by Peter himself, and found in Hebrew and quoted by Isaiah 8:14!
renald williams
Mar 25th 2010, 11:29
Only Christ the Lord and God; is the Rock of the Church in the New Testament, and no other human being … peace and health wishes…
Ewsebju (263-340).
Ghall-knisja t’Alla: l-ewwel pedament taghha; Hu dik il-Blata solida li fuqha mibnija. Kif tghid l-Iskrittura, Fuq din il-Blata nibni l-knisja tieghi u l-infern ma jerbahiex. U fl-Iskrittura wkoll: Il-Blata kienet Kristu; ghax kif jindika l-appostlu bil-kitba, l-ebda pedament iehor ma jista’ hadd iqieghed hlief dak li hemm, li hu Kristu Gesu’.
Sant Wistin, Isqof ta' Ippona (353-430).
Ghalhekk, qal Gesù, 'Int Pietru, u fuq din l-Blata' li inti stqarrejt u gharaft, meta ghidt 'Inti l-Kristu, Bin Alla l-haj' jien nibni l-knisja tieghi; jigifieri fuqi, fuq l-Iben t'Alla l-haj, nibni l-knisja tieghi.
Theodoret, isqof ta' Cipru (Seklu 5).
Ha nisimghu il-kliem ta’ Pietru, 'Inti l-Kristu, Bin Alla l-haj.' Ha nisimghu il-Mulej Kristu jwettaq din l-isqarrija, 'Fuq din il-blata nibni l-knisja tieghi u l-bibien tal-infern ma jeghlbuhiex … ghax pedament iehor hadd ma jista' jqieghed, li hu Gesu' Kristu.
renald williams
Mar 25th 2010, 11:16
Only the Lord and God is the Rock; which cannot be broken or moved, and no other human being … peace and health wishesl…
Alla l-qawwi… L-BLATA. Genesi 49:24.
Alla taghna. Hu L-BLATA … Dewteronomju 32:3-4, 15, 18, 30-31.
U lanqas hemm l-ebda BLATA bhal Alla taghna. 1 Samwel 2:2.
Il-Mulej hu L-BLATA tieghi… 2 Samwel 22:2.
Alla… tkellem, IL-BLATA. 2 Samwel 23:3.
Alla tieghi, IL-BLATA tieghi. Salmi 18:2.
O Mulej, BLATA… Salmi 19:14.
Lilek, Mulej, BLATA tieghi… . Salmi 28:1.
Mulej Ghax int IL-BLATA tieghi… Salmi 31:1-3.
Alla… Hu biss IL-BLATA... Salmi 62:2, 6-7.
Mulej… int IL-BLATA… . Salmi 71:1, 3.
Alla hu L-BLATA... Salmi 78:35.
Alla tieghi, u L-BLATA… Salmi 89:26.
L-Mulej… hu L-BLATA tieghi… Salmi 92:15.
Alla tieghi hu L-BLATA… Salmi 94:22.
lill-Mulej… LILL-BLATA… Salmi 95:1.
il-Mulej, IL-BLATA tieghi. Salmi 144:1.
lill-Mulej… U jkun… BLATA. Isaija 8:13-14.
fil-Mulej … ghandna BLATA ta’ dejjem. Isaija 26:4.
l-Mulej, lejn IL-BLATA …. Isaija 30:29.
L-Mulej… IL-BLATA. Isaija 51:1.
Mulej… u int, o BLATA. Habaqquq 1:12.
William P Flynn
Mar 25th 2010, 11:03
The Vatican, the church and and the popes have been sleeping on the job for these scandals to persevere all over the world. If as you say, Christ is looking after the church, looks like he was sleeping on the job as well
Judging by the comments regarding his upcoming visit, the vast majority of Maltese are more worried about and counting its monetary costs rather than the benefits of this visit.
Leah Micallef
Mar 25th 2010, 10:58
How can anybody, including Catholics themselves, possibly retain an ounce of respect for this man or the Church after all the abuse scandals that have come out recently? Only half an hour ago I read an article which reported that this Pope refused to defrock an American priest for molesting around 200 DEAF boys - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/world/europe/25vatican.html
This Pope needs to RESIGN and the paedophile priests need to be locked away from innocent children.