Updated: Pope on his way to Valletta

Pope Benedict has just left Malta International Airport in his Pope Mobil.

He is on his way to the Palace in Valletta where his security guards have walked in with the gift the Pope will be giving President George Abela.

The gift is a colourful mosaic interpretation of St Paul’s Shipwreck in Malta. It is in a wooden box with Del Presidente written on it.

President Abela will be giving the Pope a painting, also of St Paul’s Shipwreck.

Members of the Neo Catechumenal Movement have in the meantime placed a large black and white banner saying “Cammino Neo Catecumenale” and a colour picture of the mother and child around the Luqa roundabout, partly hiding the phallic like structure which has made it to the international news in the past days.

The plan to put up the banner to hide the monument as the Pope is driven from the area.

Ansa have reported that on the aircraft bringing him to Malta, the Pope said "the Church has been wounded by our sins".

He also referred to immigration as "a big problem of our time" and all "must rise to this challenge".