Boat owners invited to escort Pope in Grand Harbour

(Published March 16, 2010)

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.