Pope Benedict XVI could very well be landing in Malta in the rain, according to an early weather forecast. Although pointing out it was still early for an accurate forecast, John Darmanin, deputy forecaster at the Malta International Airport's Met Office, said there was the probability of a light drizzle starting from Saturday afternoon and extending into early on Sunday morning.

The Pope is expected to land at around 5 p.m. on Saturday. He will head to Valletta to meet President George Abela, before going to St Paul's Grotto in Rabat and then to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he will be spending the night.

Mr Darmanin said the weather on both days was expected to be mostly cloudy, with the highest temperature expected of 15 degrees Celsius.

The clouds, he said, should make Sunday's Mass, which starts at 10 a.m., a little more comfortable for the congregation, as well as for Pope Benedict XVI, who turns 83 one day before he arrives in Malta.

The forecaster said the weekend was expected to bring south-easterly to easterly light to moderate winds, and to be relatively humid.

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