Inspired by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Malta, Nadur-born architect and designer Daniel Vella is planning to display the coats-of-arms of the Popes in his lifetime on the outside of his museum at Pierpont, New York.

For the past 21 years, Mr Vella has been gradually expanding his museum, which is mostly centred on the history of Malta and the Catholic Church.

The museum has five narrow roofs and three broader peaks and the coats-of-arms will be placed at the narrow peaks. The top peak will carry those of Pius IX and Pius XII and overlook a garden of Roman motifs where the museum's cultural events are held.

The coat-of-arms of John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul I will face the busy avenue below. John Paul II's will face north and the west peak will display those of Pope Benedict XVI.

Mr Vella is assisted by his 11-year-old daughter Rochelle Grace in tracing the coats-of-arms on to granite.

Once completed, this outdoor area will hold the ecumenical and philanthropic events that are presently regularly held at Mr Vella's residence overlooking the river. Here will also be displayed the banners representing various international houses of nobility and religious organisations when chivalric and historical commemorations are staged.

Inside the highly-elaborate museum, which features episodes from the history of Malta on its various floors, Mr Vella is also completing 29 coats-of-arms of mediaeval and renaissance Popes that decorate the heavily-coffered and gilded ceiling. He is at present putting the finishing touches to seven banners representing the coats-of-arms of the bishops of his homeland, Gozo, from Mgr Mikiel Franġisk Buttigieg (1864-1866) to the present incumbent, to be displayed along with photographs and history of each prelate.

Mr Vella has been given various honours for his philanthropic work, the latest from the Vatican being that of a Knight Commander of the Order of Pius IX. He was impressed by the Pope's recent speech to artisans gathered in the Sistine chapel urging them to a quest for beauty.

"At a moment when there seems to be a campaign against Christian traditions, I feel the necessity to fortify against those who are so relentlessly aiming to dismiss and even abolish our Christian symbols and values. This museum stands rock firm to perpetuate our heritage," he says.

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