Pope Benedict will be arriving in Malta on April 17 at 5 p.m. and will be welcomed by President and Mrs George Abela, Prime Minister and Mrs Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

Capt. Joe Cachia told a news conference that Dr Abela will then accompany the Pope on the dias for a national salute. Dr Abela will them give a welcoming address and an address by the Pope will follow.

The Pope’s departure ceremony on April 18 is expected to start at around 6.40 p.m.

The Pope will be given a salute, there will be speeches by the President and the Pope and Pope Benedict will leave Malta at 7.10 p.m. on an Air Malta flight.

Airmalta CEO Joe Cappello said this would be the third time that Airmalta would be taking the Pope to Rome. It had also flown aken Pope Benedict's predecessor Pope John Paul II when he visited in 1990 and 2001.

The Pope will be taken to Rome on KM1950. The flight will be captained by Joseph Agius while pursor Joe Fava will lead the cabin crew.

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