Security 'stepped up' for Pope's visit
Security around the Pope is to be stepped up for his visit to Malta amid fears of protests over the child abuse scandals, Britain's Daily Telegraph has reported.
Nick Pisa, reporting from Rom, said the decision came after vandals defaced posters promoting the Pontiff's trip over the weekend by adding an Adolf Hitler style moustache to his photograph and the word "paedophile".
As a teenager growing up in Germany Pope Benedict, then Josef Ratzinger, was conscripted into the Hitler Youth in the closing stages of the Second World War, an episode he has avoided talking about at great length.
"There have been a series of high level calls between security and Vatican officials in both Rome and the Maltese capital of Valleta in recent days as the scandal over sex abuse by clergy has grown," the newspaper says.
A Vatican source said: "There is a real fear that protests will be an issue during the visit by the Pope to Malta and as a result precautions are being taken. The itinerary is not being changed but there is concern and as a result an increase in vigilance.''
It comes after it was disclosed that the Pope, who was then Cardinal Ratzinger, resisted appeals to unfrock an American priest with a record of sexually molesting children. In a letter, written in 1985 and bearing his name, he said that any action against Fr Stephen Kiesle should take into account the "good of the universal Church" and the "detriment that granting the dispensation can provoke within the community of Christ's faithful, particularly concerning the young age." Fr Kiesle was 38 at the time.
Malta, like Ireland, Germany and America has been hit by a series of sex scandals involving Roman Catholic clergy and on the island which was a former British colony there have been abuse claims against 45 priests.
The newspaper says child abuse victims plan to protest at the airport when the Pope lands on Saturday afternoon and at various other events during the Pope's 36-hour trip, which is to celebrate St Paul being shipwrecked there 1950 years ago.
Many of the abuse cases in Malta are said to have taken place at the St Joseph Orphanage at Santa Venera and one victim Lawrence Grech, has written to the Pope dealing his horrific ordeal at the hands of priests.
He has asked for a meeting with the Pope and an apology but so far he has heard nothing, despite the Pope's spokesman last week saying that the Pope would be willing to meet abuse victims.
A Facebook site called "No to Pope Benedict XVI in Malta" has been set up and has attracted more than 1,000 members.
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Christopher Grech
Apr 14th 2010, 12:18
What beats me is all this fuss about the pope.
All these questions come up:
1) Is the pope acting on behalf of Christ?
2) Is the church performing God's will on earth?
Read http://jahtruth.net/darth.htm for the truth about this.
Joe Zammit
Apr 13th 2010, 22:39
The Pope is the successor of St Peter. He is a special person since only he is the Head of the Catholic Church, the one Church Christ founded. Besides faith, history itself proves this. There is a continuous line of Popes since St Peter to the present one, his holiness Benedict XVI.
Those who have gone to San Paolo fuor le mura in Rome, where there is the tomb of St Paul, can admire along the upper part of the walls the paintings of all the Popes. At one side on the marble floor, there is board giving some information on each Pope.
This is history which no one can deny, unless irrationally.
Miguel Micallef
Apr 14th 2010, 19:09
I doubt you've seen the real history of the popes. A long list of sex, adultery, rape, torture and murder is what you will find in the REAL history. Most of the early popes where the center figures in such criminal acts, and recent popes don't seem to be much better now that the truth came out. Because, even though most of you are saying 'allegations allegations no truth no truth' if you read the international news you will get an idea of what's really going on. All other countries are heavily complaining and protesting about the pope and the roman catholic church. As usual, Malta is the only one behind, and in this case awaiting the pope's arrival as if he was actually some kind of hero.
Matt Morales
Apr 13th 2010, 16:15
The Pope is just a man not holy or extra special, just a man able to make mistakes. He does not speak on behalf of Christ he speaks on behalf of a old church filled with traditions. However those traditions and the track record of that church are not biblical and I am sure Christ himself does not approve, and the apostles and mary would roll over in their graves if they knew that the Catholic Church has raped and robbed what was supposed to be Christianity and made it into this.
D.Spiteri
Apr 13th 2010, 09:00
@ G.Camilleri
I Beg to differ sir! I cannot understand how the church has been brainwashing people. People who are brainwashed just don't want to use their head. Also i am sure the muslims are much more brainwashed then the Catholics are!
If you aren't so sure about it try to read the Koran, and God forbid you try to use your head with what the Koran says!
Christian Sciberras
Apr 13th 2010, 11:08
"Brainwashing" doesn't have anything to do with reading some book, be it the Bible or the Koran.
E.g. the Bible never said the Church should rule over a country, whether through ethics or through direct political intervention.
Yet, we see those effects today, even if sometimes unintentionally. For instance, LP seems to promise "a greater bond with the Church" if they get into power.
I needn't prove my point any further. Now if you please, don't talk crap to try to discredit the Church/religion. Religion is a flaw in itself, no need any reminding. Mucking things up won't prove anyone right.
E Vella
Apr 13th 2010, 08:54
@ Chev Chris Galea
I totally agree with you. No one should ruin your feast next Sunday, and no one should misbehave. ok fair enough.
But pleaseeee do NOT talk about breaching human rights. because all these victims claiming to have been abused... they had their rights breached "just a little". and perhaps not everyone is saying the truth but i am MORE THAN SURE that there are a good number of genuine victims unfortunately. their human rights were breached, when young!!!!
i'd rather not see the Pope because of misbehaviour than be abused when young. (they are both breaching of human rights - but on a very different level)
albert caruana
Apr 13th 2010, 06:50
security is not theatralics and there is a tendency for news reporters to see security only as actionist highly visible measures when real security should be invisible and unobtrusive. protests are a legitimate happening in democratic countries so what is the issue here?
will elections, referenda, and newspapers be banned on grounds of "security"?
Joe Zammit
Apr 12th 2010, 19:49
Thank God, on Easter Sunday the Pope delivered his Easter message to the city of Rome and to the whole world. Besides being aired on many tv and radio channels, we witnessed the very large crowd gathered in St Peter's Square and part of Via della Conciliazione.
The Catholic Church is never afraid of persecution. The Roman Emperors persecuted her for 300 years. Notwithstanding this, the Catholic Church continued to grow stronger and stronger and ended up by taking the same central place of the emperors themselves.
The Roman emperors are now just history; the Catholic Church is a fact.
Jonathan Pace
Apr 14th 2010, 08:37
Ironically you are right, the Catholic Church isn't afraid of being persecuted since right after the fall of the Roman Empire they did most of the persecution themselves.
Andrew Camilleri
Apr 12th 2010, 19:27
The only problem is that the allegations the Pope refused to defrock that priest are unfounded. Here's an article that puts some facts straight.
http://www.socon.ca/or_bust/?p=6102
Miriam Xerri
Apr 12th 2010, 13:52
I for one will definitly will not be greeting the pope with enthusiasm, i al;so read the foreign newspapers, including the article of the Times above, but thats me doesn't necessary reflects others opinion.
Louis Cutajar
Apr 12th 2010, 12:36
Ejjew ħa nagħtu merħba kbira lil Q.T il-Papa Benedittu XVI nhar is-Sibt u l-Ħadd 17 u 18 ta' April. Ejjew ma naqtgħux qalbna f'dan il-mument difficli li bħalissa il-Knisja hija għaddejja minnu. Dan m'hu xejn ħlief ħidma tax-xitan, imma bħalma Kristu ħareġ rebbieħ fuq ix-xitan il-Knisja wkoll toħroġ minn dan il-mument diffiċli. Ħafna drabi inħarsu biss lejn dawk il-membri tal-Knisja li żbaljaw u niġbru lil-Kulħadd f'keffa waħda u ninsew 'il ħafna saċerdoti u reliġjużi li huma ta' eżempju tajjeb u jagħmlu ħafna ġid. Nixtieq insaqsi lil dawk li qed jallegaw li ġew abbużati minn membri tal-kleru u li jridu jiprrotestaw jekk għandhomx intenzjoni retta biex jipprotestaw jew inkella se jagħmlu dan minħabba interessi personali u għall-Flus. Mill-ġdid merħba f'Malta tagħna u aħna dejjem warajk.
Louis Cutajar
Fgura
adrian aquilina
Apr 12th 2010, 11:55
nothing says faith in god like a bullet proof car and an army of security guards....
Christian Sciberras
Apr 13th 2010, 11:03
*Personal army you mean.
Victor Zammit
Apr 13th 2010, 21:46
Ftakar li il-Papa huwa wkoll kap ta' stat - u li ta qablu kwazi spicca miet ghax sparawlu....ghal xi raguni ma narax lanqas lil President Obama (probabilment l iktar bniedem li ghandu power f idejh fid dinja) jigri f'konvertible illum il-gurnata.
G.Micallef
Apr 12th 2010, 09:48
Gheziez huti Maltin u Ghawdxin,
Bhala Malti inhossni fid-dmir li naghmel dan il-kumment. Il-Kinsja Kattolika Rumana hija gejja minn Alla l-Imbierek permezz ta' Ibnu Gesu' Kristu u ta' l-Apposlti waqqaf il-Knisja tieghu permezz ta' bnedmin li m'humiex sopranaturali imma mimlijin dghufija. Jigri li fil-Knisja nies li jahsbu li jistghu ikunu ministri taghha ikollhom go fihom perversitajiet ta' min jistmellom u jikkundanna l-agir taghhom li anke jirnexxilhom jizgiccaw testijiet psikologici li Alla biss ghandu kontroll fuqhom ghax ghalih xejn ma hu mohbi! Pero' WASAL IZ-ZMIEN li l-Knisja Istituzzjonali tkun aktar HARXA ma' dawk li ghandhom minsiteru attiva fi hdana li jikkommettu reati pedofeli. Wara li dawn il-persuni jinstabu hatja skond il-ligi, il-Knisja ghandha tnezzaghhom mill-istat religjuz jew klerikali taghhom u taghmel pubbliku il-fatt li m'ghadhomx ministri taggha.
Perswaz li l-Q.T. Il-Papa Benedittu XVI qieghed jaghmel dan u huwa ahrax hafna f'dan ir-rigward! Ejjew niftakru li biex niskongraw irridu nkunu puri ahna l-ewwel. Ejjew ma naqghu f'bassezzi. Ejjew nagharfu l-Knisja ghamlet u qed taghmel hafna u hafna gid u m'ghandniex nikkundannawha fuq l-izball ta' FTIT PERSUNI PERVERSI. Ejjew ma nkunux ghomja u sppervi. Ejjew nilqghu lill-Qdusija Tieghu b'Rispett u Mhabba.
L. Galea
Apr 12th 2010, 09:20
Couldn't the pope do what what Jesus Christ would have done and meet these victims whose life has been ruined. The pope is probably tormented by the media's constant reminder of being part of Hitler Youth, which probably was not a choice. These vicitms are tormented by the reminder of abuse and that their abusers have still not faced justice. These priests preach what is right and wrong to society, how sad.
S. Pulis
Apr 12th 2010, 09:15
Tal-misthija! Ahna mhux lill-Kardinal Ratzinger ha nilqghu fostna imma lill-Papa. Ahna ha nilqghu lill-kariga mhux lill-persuna. Il-kariga hija s-Successur ta' Kristu. Lil dak sejrin nilqghu ahna u lill-ebda ex-Hitler Youth!
Jonathan Pace
Apr 13th 2010, 08:22
Oh calm down, we get it you love the Pope and his godly visage. I just hope that this visit doesn't clog up the roads with squad cars so I can get to work on time next Saturday, but hey not like the catholic church respects the discomfort done to non catholics whenever there is a festa or purcissjoni that somehow always ends up blocking a main road.
Christian Sciberras
Apr 12th 2010, 09:12
Even though I can't say I'm a fan of the Pope, two rights do not make one wrong.
Bringing up past wounds to the future in the name of vengeance does no one any good.
People like Mr Grech do have the right to an apology, however I can't imagine such people scribbling on those posters, nor shouting against the Pope coming here.
So if not these people, who's causing the trouble? And more importantly, why?
Do these persons seriously they're doing justice to the abused by defacing some poster?
Lastly, I can't really see these cowards a concern. If these persons don't want to show themselves, they probably will not be anywhere near the Pope, and if they are, they won't do anything at all.
R Busuttil
Apr 12th 2010, 09:08
"No to Pope Benedict XVI in Malta" ???..........You must be joking guys. Invite him to come at least once a month and let's make sure that each time he visits a different Maltese town or village. That way we would make sure that all our roads will be new by the end of the year!!! At least something good would have come out of all this wastage of money by the Maltese church and from our pockets.
M Chetcuti
Apr 12th 2010, 08:51
Not just an apology...there must be compensation and the culprits tried in open court.Nothing short of that...and as for the 45 priests accused so far..thats the tip of the iceberg>Goodness only knows how many cases unreported there has been through the years.
Joseph M. Meli
Apr 12th 2010, 08:43
The very fact that this trip to Malta was supposed to bring about a renewal in the Spiritual wellbeing of the Maltese Catholics, the attack on the Maltese who are not regular in their relationship or are in cohabitation by the Curia has shown its cards.
The half a MILLION Euros spent on this Trip by a Head of State, after all the Pope is the Head of State of the Vatican City, by the Curia shows disrespect to Dar tal Providenza where in 2009 had a defict of ONE FIFTH of the amount being spent.
It is VERY shameful that the Prime Minister, as Head of the Civil Executive, and President Abela, as Custodian of the Constitution of the Republic of Malta have not, as yet, issued a condamnation of the Curia's DISCRIMINATION towards a section of the Maltese Nation.
What IF Members of the House of Representatives are married to NON Catholics, will they have been invited ?
According to the Church such marriage is irregular !
D. Galea
Apr 12th 2010, 08:41
Probabbli dawn li ser iwettqu xi tip ta' protesta huma l-istess nies li jeqirdu dwar l-importanza tad-demokrazija izda dawn l-istess nies li ma ghandhom rispett lejn it-twemmin ta' haddiehor, lejn is-sentimenti tal-poplu u lejn persuna dinjitarja bhal ma huwa l-Papa. Halluna nifirhu u niccelebraw f'dawn il-mumenti. fid-dinja kulhadd ghandu l-opinjoni u d-difetti tieghu. imma dejjem uri rispett lejn dak li jkun.
G.Micallef
Apr 12th 2010, 08:37
Let us not blend unblendable issues! Let us act out of maturity!
Ernest Vella
Apr 12th 2010, 08:35
Miskin hu min jipprova jisfratta l-migja tal-Papa f'pajjizna....dan li qieghed jigri huwa kollu tort ta istigazzjoni tal-media, anke uhud lokali, b'allegazzjonijiet u b'ahbarijiet dizonesti u malafamanti meta l-ebda prova ma jkollhom. Dawn ghandhom jinzammu responsabbli ghal kull incident li jista jinqala...jekk jinqala...f'pajjiz liberu xorta mhux permess li jsiru atti vandali fuq propjea privata, li jigi akkuzat bniedem qabel ma nstab li huwa hati u min ihammeg irid jinzamm responsabli.
Hija tal-misthija kif One News ghawweg il-fatti lbierah u bil-mod kif qal l-ahbar ta x'jifhem li grupp ta nies mhumiex mistiedna...jiena nippretendi bi dritt li l-awtoritajiet jiehdu l-passi u jekk hemm bzonn jinfethu kawzi ta libell ghax dawn bil-mahfra ma jisimghux...Irridu jnessuna l-passat infamiu jippretendu mahfra imma mbaghad lesti li jcapsulek ma wiccek atti li ma tkunx ghamilt u jkunu frott ta gideb sfaccat.
Nappella lill-Maltin kollha biex johorgu bi hgarhom u jaghtu merhba xierqa lil Papa Benedituu XVI, il-Vigarju ta Kristu u ma naghtux kaz ta l-allegazzjonijiet ghax sa prova kuntrarja jibqghu biss allegazzjonijiet infonati mimlija gideb u mibeghda lejn il-Knisja...li tant ghamlet u ghada taghmel gid fostna. San Gorg Preca ghallimna r-rispett u l-imhabba lejn il-Kap tal-Knisja Kattolika. Nittamaw li l'Atti ta l-Appostli kitbu sew fuq il-qalb tal-Maltin,
J Farrugia
Apr 12th 2010, 08:33
No there is no fear about HH the Popes safety. There will be no protests about child abuse 'scandals'. Let's not forget that all those involved in such scandals have been taken to court by the authorities and are still undergoing court procedures. Thos who will try to turn this national event of great spiritual importance into such dismal shows of stupidity, will see the wrath of our own people. We will welcome our Catholic Spiritual leader will all the honours due to HIM and will give him a national welcome. Any one with ulterior motive had better not show up at any of the spiritual celebrations. We pride ourselves with being catholics but at the end of the day we are also humans.
David Caruana
Apr 13th 2010, 11:27
"Wrath"?!?! Do you really call yourself a Christian?
Chev Chris Galea
Apr 12th 2010, 08:17
I hope nobody ruins our feast next Sunday.
In that case if someone misbehaves, that will really be a breach of human rights for practising Catholics and an insult to those who still believe in the Church.
I am also aware that there have been plenty of false reports against good priests.
Denis Degabriele
Apr 13th 2010, 07:49
viva il Papa u il Knisja Katolika, i have respect to him as a Pope he is representing the whole church and not himself.
Louis Cutajar
Apr 12th 2010, 08:16
Merħba kbira lil Q.T il-Papa ġewwa Malta nhar is-17 u 18 ta' April 2010. Ma nħallux ix-xitan iġarrabna, dawn l-akkuzi u l-bumbardamenti kontra l-knisja il-maġġoranza tagħhom huma xogħol ix-xitan. Dan ma jfissirx li l-membri tal-Knisja huma perfetti u qatt ma' żbaljaw, niftakru li fejn hemm il-bnedmin hemm l-iżbalji. Imma irridu nżommu li mhux il-membri kollha tal-Knisja jiżbaljaw. Huwa numru żgħir ħafna ta' saċerdoti li abbużaw ħdejn in-numru kbir ta' saċerdoti li għamlu l-ġid u kienu ta' eżempju tajjeb għall-oħrajn. Nixtieq insaqsi li l-dawn li qed jallegaw li ġew abbużżati u li se jipprotestaw: "Għandhom intenzjoni retta għalxiex se jipprotestaw jew għandhom xi interessi personali? jew qed jagħmlu dan minħabba l-flus jew xejn aktar?
G. Camilleri
Apr 12th 2010, 08:12
With all the Church Scandals the church is loosing its dominance. I predict in 100 years the muslims will take over the world.
The Church has been brainwashing people to take control for thousands of years.
It's time for people to wake up that this church is all about corruption, money and control.
Christian Sciberras
Apr 13th 2010, 10:59
Predictions go awry, and I'm thankful for that, otherwise Earth would have ended the first time someone shouted "Doom is near", ie, circa 3000 years ago.
Steven M. Calascione
Apr 12th 2010, 08:06
I can't help but recall the words of Fr. Alexander Schmemann written as an observer at the Vatican II council in the ’60s — “Thank God I am Orthodox.”
"Pascha is made possible, that unique night fills with light and joy and such victorious power in the greeting "Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!" because my faith itself was born from experience of the living Christ."
Fr. Alexander Schmemann