President George Abela this morning paid a surprise visit to the media centre set up for this weekend’s visit by Pope Benedict XVI at the Excelsior Hotel in Floriana.

Dr Abela met the staff at the centre and said it was very well equipped and organised.

The centre, he said, had been praised by foreign media organisations that came to Malta for the Papal visit. The service being provided was excellent with care being given to each detail.

The Pope’s visit, he said, not only has pastoral significance but also a very high impact on the tourism industry.

Dr Abela encouraged the people to greet the Pope from wherever he passed and to go to Mass on the Granaries on Sunday.

He said that Cyprus, which is the Pope’s next stop, had sent a delegation to Malta to see how the country had prepared for the visit.