Wrap-up: Malta gives Pope enthusiastic welcome
Pope Benedict's visit to Malta got off to a successful start today, with thousands of people turning out to watch the pontiff in Valletta and various localities, particularly Mosta and Rabat.
The highlights of the visit were the enthusiastic welcome given to the Pope by some 5,000 children at Palace Square and also his moments of silent prayer in St Paul's grotto in Rabat.
In comments from the Palace balcony Pope Benedict thanked the children and the people of Malta for their enthusiastic welcome.
His Holiness wasted no time in referring to issues facing Malta.
On the papal flight he referred to immigration saying:
"Malta is the point where the currents of refugees arrive from Africa and knock at the doors of Europe. This is a great problem of our time and naturally cannot be resolved by the island of Malta.
"All of us have to respond to this challenge and work so that everyone, in their own lands, live a dignified life while on the other hand do what is possible so these refugees find here where they arrive a space for a dignified life, a response to this great challenge of our times."
At the airport welcoming ceremony he referred to the divorce debate, saying that Malta should continue to stand up for the indissolubility of marriage as a natural institution as well as a sacramental one, and for the true nature of the family, just as it does for the sacredness of human life from conception to natural.
Later, in Rabat, the Pope urged the Maltese people to be witness of their faith.
"Live out your faith ever more fully with the members of your families, with your friends, in your neighbourhoods, in the workplace and in the whole fabric of Maltese society. In a particular way I urge parents, teachers and catechists to speak of your own living encounter with the Risen Jesus to others, especially the young people who are Malta's future," the Pope said.
On the flight from Rome, Pope Benedict appeared to have indirectly referred to the abuse scandals clouding the Church, saying that Roman Catholicism had been "wounded by our sins",
Benedict, 83, neither mentioned the scandals directly, nor did he mention the word "abuse".
Speaking in Italian, Benedict said that Malta loved the Church, "even if this body is wounded by our sins".
People lined the route that was followed by the Pope after his arrival. Near St Vincent de Paule Home, some 500 elderly people waved flags, threw flowers and applauded as the Pope was driven past.
A number of migrants greeted the Pope as he was driven near the Marsa Open Centre.
Thousands of people waving papal flags greeted the Pope as he entered Valletta through City Gate, but the highlight was the cheering of children in Palace Square. They sang Happy Birthday to the Pope in four languages as they turned the historic square into a carpet of yellow and white.
In the Palace the Pope formally met the President, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and MPs, and exchanged gifts.
The President had earlier welcomed the Pope at the airport and underlined Malta's Christian identity.
"We are proud as a nation to have inherited a Christian heritage which is at the core of our historical identity, even though we are not a confessional state," Dr Abela said.
" We too are experiencing, like all the rest of Europe, the phenomenon of multiculturalism, but this does not mean that we have to renounce to the beliefs which are our own. We still cherish a code of values, nourished by our Faith, such as the cardinal value of marriage and the family.
"We acknowledge that our Maltese family is undergoing rapid social changes and challenges, greatly influenced by current Western-world lifestyles and the ever-increasing secularisation of the Maltese society. But the majority of our people still believe in monogamous marriage, based on the relationship between a man and a woman, open to the procreation of children, and consequently to the formation of a family as the bedrock of our nation.
"We treasure the inviolability of the human person and affirm our full respect for human rights and uphold the principles of social justice by providing equal opportunities for all and ensuring that everybody has access to one's basic needs. We are against human trafficking and cherish the sanctity of human life from its conception to its natural end. We believe in the values of freedom, equality and solidarity, the fundamental principles of democracy and of the rule of law."
The highlight of the papal visit will be reached tomorrow Sunday, when Pope Benedict celebrates Mass on the Granaries, Floriana, at 10 a.m. The Pope will arrive on the Granaries at 9.40 a.m.
The Pope will cross Grand Harbour from Kalkara to Valletta Waterfront on a catamaran escorted by small boats between 4.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. in what promises to be the most spectacular part of the papal visit.
The Pope will then meet young people at the Valletta Waterfront before returning to Rome.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
X Bonanno
Apr 19th 2010, 17:45
@ John Falzon You have criticised one of the commentators for writing 'imdejqin' to those who have in the last weeks been promoting a hate-the-pope campaign. One of the commentators in the anti-pope campaign, which by the way, did not yield any result, (anzi it had the opposite effect), insulted all the persons who were to attend such activities as 'maniacs', including my family, and my kids. If that was the case, then the extravagant majority of the Maltese are 'maniacs', and Proud of it! I still forgive him for abusing me in that silly and stupid way, and so should you.
John Falzon
Apr 19th 2010, 14:01
@James De Giorgio
Is it possible that those who you refer to as “anti-church bloggers” have been censored by the democratic T.O.M.?
How dare you refer to people that have got a different opinion from you “imdejqin ...... and feeling isolated”?
Anthony Debono
Apr 18th 2010, 20:50
Indeed a historic moment for Malta.
And kudos, well done, prosit to TimesofMalta.com for such extensive coverage including live streaming. Now how about commemorating such an event by offering a DVD, a special supplement, or whatever?
Edward Saguna
Apr 18th 2010, 20:41
It was most refreshing seeing our youths so enthusiastic in giving our Pope such a warm welcome. They have truly helped to start off this wonderful visit on an amazing note.
Especially great was the fact that the pope decided to stop and bless our children, especially the weaker and the sick, before continuing on his exhausting schedule.
We, all those who have been blessed with responding with humilty to God's call, have seen the humane face of a humble man who is so different to what media try to depict him as being. Thank you God for this weekend of blessings!
Carmel Garcia
Apr 18th 2010, 09:17
Many spit in the air and it came on their faces. He who has no sins, throws the first stone. Welcome Pope benedict, Vicar of Christ, Succesor of St. Peter, and the Our Shepherd.
M Pace
Apr 18th 2010, 08:50
@David Gullia
I agree with you, and I really felt sorry for those special needs children who in agony were left waiting for the pope outside the palace for long hours, while theTOP people were cosily meeting his Holiness the Pope inside the Palace. They should at least have been given a private audience. with the Pope.
Dr Francis Saliba
Apr 18th 2010, 08:32
@David Gulia
H.H. the Pope did not wait for the children to be allowed to approach him. He threw security precautions to the wind and approached the handicapped children and their families of his own accord.
Dr Francis Saliba
Apr 18th 2010, 06:20
His Holiness landed in Malta showing on his face evident sign of the distress caused by the resented clerical sexual abuse and the unjustified onslaught in the hostile world media directed against his person and the whole suffering Church. Within a few hours the rousing welcome given to him by our civil and ecclesiastic authorities, and above all by the thousands of Catholic parents and their grateful children, wiped that expression of sorrow from his face and replaced it by an endearing and winning smile. Luke, Publius and our ancestors would again have been proud of the reception. Well done Malta for your "widow's mite" contribution so the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church.
Alexander Farrugia
Apr 18th 2010, 01:27
Thank you ToM, for letting us share these wonderful moments in the history of our islands. (Message from the Philippines)
David Gulia
Apr 18th 2010, 00:10
What difference there was between the flowers on the president palace gallery and the the children in St.Gorg square?...........nothing at all..........both were used to decorate!Christ did said "HALLU IT TFAL HA JIGU GHANDI"....but the pope didnt made the same!He should went among the children.This time there was no excuse of security,among children!........My son,aged 9,came home complaining that it wasn't worth it the hustle because the pope was too far and might as well stayed home and see the pope on t.v.! This does not apply for the top people,cause all of them were close to him
....as always.....but give children a chance.......at least with the pope!
Rita Anna Lia
Apr 17th 2010, 22:59
Personally I think that this experience showed how unreal is blogging!
Many persons, including myself, have imagined that following all the negative blogging and bad news, the Pope was not going to be greeted as Pope John Paul II.
However, today, the Maltese people have amply showed to the world that they still love the Church of Christ. People thronged in thousands, including kids, families, young, and old and gave an arousing ecstatic welcome to the Pope. People from all walks of life, mainly workers, joined in the celebrations and showed the world, including the Maltese bloggers, that they still love their sheperd.
Sorry guys and gals, but this event amply showed that blogging is just a virtual reality.
I welcome Pope Benedict XVI, and will join myself in the celebrations along with my young family at the Fosos.
ray sacco
Apr 19th 2010, 12:51
@rita anna lia:
sorry to inform you that the population on these islands sums up to more than 400,000. so the thousands who thronged to give mr. ratzinger an ecstatic welcome, estimated around 100,000 according to news (so you fancy the media now!) amounts to less than one third of the population........a far cry from the majority of the maltese, let alone ALL the maltese people. it seems as if blogging is infact, as you said........a virtual reality! on the other hand the 'arousing ecstacy' with which you wrote appears to be some virtual fantasy!
James De Giorgio
Apr 17th 2010, 22:57
U mela! U l-kbir ghadu gej! Fuq il-fosos!
Where are all the church bashers? Aren't you anti-church bloggers feeling isolated now?
The people of Malta have answered you in their twenties of thousands.
WELCOME POPE BENEDICT.
Issa bil-fatti nistghu nghidu li apparti erbgha bloggers imdejqin, MALTA is well and truly behind the POPE!!!
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Apr 18th 2010, 08:26
What a charming Christian man. Anyone who disagrees with him is "imdejjaq". Nice to see Christ died for people like him. Religion is not like a soccer team. If you want to see crowds, go to a gay and lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. Now that's a crowd. Greater than the population of Malta gathered in a few streets. My message to James is a simple one: If you claim to be a Christian, practice it. Lead by example especially Christian charity.
ray sacco
Apr 19th 2010, 10:56
@james degiorgio:
are you going to mass at fosos, because by your tone, it seems more as if you're going for a football match! does it occur to you that if there were twenties of thousands greeting mr.ratzinger, there are three hundred thousand others who do not care and stayed home or went somewhere else, in the opposite dfirection? it seems that it has been quite a while since you updated yourself about the number of the population on the maltese islands? i will not label you with deceitful names as your tender catholic spirit invoked you to write about others in your comment. i sincerely wish you enjoy yourself.
Gaetano Bugeja
Apr 17th 2010, 22:47
The Maltese people are giving a deserved welcome to the Pope, the respresentative of Christ on Earth. Let's hear and live the message that the Pope is giving us.