As Malta prepares for Pope Benedict XVI's visit on April 17 and 18, he faces increasing scrutiny over cases of sexual abuse by priests. Could this taint the Pope's image in the eyes of Maltese Catholics? Will it affect the enthusiastic welcome he is expected to receive from the people? By Cynthia Busuttil and Claudia Calleja.

The sex abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church is not expected to overshadow the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Malta next month.

The Vatican last week attacked what it called an "ignoble attempt" to smear the Pope himself with allegations that, while still a cardinal, he had some part in covering up sexual abuse of children by priests. Protestors in London have gone so far as to demand his resignation.

Sociologist Rev. Joe Inguanez is one of those who believe the impact of the allegations will not be widespread in Malta, an overwhelmingly Catholic country.

In a survey carried out a few years ago, Fr Inguanez found that, while people recognised that there might be some bad apples among priests, this should not reflect on the whole Church.

He carried out the survey following the 2003 revelations that the police were investigating allegations of paedophilia by four priests at the St Joseph Institute in Sta Venera.

"People had said it was a personal issue and not something that reflected on the Church. The faith in the Church remained," Fr Inguanez told The Times yesterday.

Philosopher Fr Peter Serracino Inglott agreed that the claims would not overshadow the Pope's visit, saying people understood that Pope Benedict XVI never tried to cover up any abuse cases.

The Pope has been targeted mainly because his deputy had stopped a Church trial against an American priest accused of abusing some 200 deaf boys in the 1950s and 1960s, when as Cardinal Ratzinger he was a senior Vatican figure.

According to The New York Times, Wisconsin priest Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy had personally written to Cardinal Ratzinger protesting against a canonical trial for abusing the boys since he had already repented and was in poor health, as well as the case being beyond the Church's statute of limitations. The newspaper reported that he was not defrocked but the Vatican has denied any cover-up in this case.

Moreover, when Pope Benedict XVI was Archbishop of Munich, a German priest who received therapy for paedophilia was allowed to go back to work with children. The Vatican has said that then Archbishop Ratzinger was not involved in this decision.

Speaking at St Peter's Square on Sunday, the Pope said his faith would not allow him to be intimidated by "the petty gossip of dominant opinion".

Columnist and anthropologist Mark Anthony Falzon pointed out that the effect of the allegations is not expected to be huge, especially because of a strong sense of déjà vu, with repetition causing news to lose its power, even though this alleged case involved the Pope more directly than usual.

"Such stories fuel anti-clericalism, particularly that directed against high-ranking Churchmen. Which is not to say people's perception of the Church is necessarily being seriously affected," he said.

Dr Falzon pointed out that Catholics, especially in southern Europe, had a knack of combining the most virulent type of anti-clericalism with a long-term loyalty and devotion to the Church.

"It's the mother of all ambiguities, but it's very much alive. Anti-clericalism becomes a sort of counter-narrative, or counterpoint, to the main text, and episodes like the current one provide the ingredients to the counter-plot. At the end of the day, however, it's just that - a foil."

He said anti-clericalism was very strong at the popular level in Malta but, at the same time, the Catholic Church was still very strong at all levels and did not show any signs of backing down.

Dr Falzon said unless Maltese media "go mad and decide to hype the story about the abuse claims", the Pope's visit will not be affected at all.

"On the day, the Pope's visit will be more a matter of emotions than calculative news analysis," he said.

The chancellor of the Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta, Rev. Canon Simon Godfrey, is also certain the allegations would not eclipse the Pope's visit.

"I'm sure it won't because the Holy Father is held in such high esteem," he said, adding that Maltese people would surely welcome him with open arms.

But Fr Inguanez said one could not say whether the Maltese would still flock to see the Pope during his 26-hour visit, just as they had done on the two occasions his predecessor came to Malta.

"He is not Pope John Paul II and fewer people might go because of that rather than because of the claims," Fr Inguanez said.

What people think

Romina Delceppo, 29, Kalkara
I don't think the Pope has anything to do with the mistakes made by others. That they did is not a nice thing... but the Pope had nothing to do with it. I guess such matters do cause some people to look at certain facets of the Church differently, but not the Pope. I planned to go see him and will still go. After all, he'll be passing through my village.

Marianne Micallef, 67, Qawra
Such allegations don't really affect the way I look at the Pope, as His Holiness. We are all human after all... I believe in God, the sacraments and the commandments. I believe all people make mistakes, including myself, maybe that's why I'm a bit more understanding. I will be in England when the Pope comes to Malta but would have gone to see him otherwise.

Rene Rossignaud, 29, Swieqi
These cases of abuse keep emerging year after year and nothing is done. It doesn't affect me because my perception of the Church is already bad and it's getting worse. I don't think it's a very popular time for the Pope to be visiting a very Catholic island... However, I feel the Maltese will be turning a blind eye on the subject and focus on the fact the Pope is here.

Anthony Gauci, 65, Valletta
There are many who turned against the Church because of such allegations of abuse. It does diminish people's trust in the institution. These are the people who should be leading by example, but they are not. I don't know what to believe... you don't expect such corruption from these people if it is true they believe in God. I don't really plan to follow the Pope in Malta.

Paula Fleri Soler, 41, St Julians
I think this scandal is affecting the way people perceive the Church. Ultimately, the Pope is the top person within the Church and people want to see him being proactive and doing something to address such situations. As for April's visit, I never really had plans to go see him.

Dennis Caruana, 45, Valletta
At the moment there is an ongoing campaign against the Pope and the Church. I believe in the Pope, because I'm Catholic. I assume he would have taken action against abusers if he could. These allegations will not stop me believing in God, even if it turned out that the Pope himself was convicted for paedophilia. He is human like anyone else and this will not affect my faith. I live in Valletta so, might as well go see him when he's here.