Wrap-up: Pope Benedict's historic Malta visit ends
Pope Benedict's 27-hour visit to Malta came to an end this evening after it made the international headlines when the pontiff looked the child abuse issue in the eye by holding an unscheduled meeting with its victims.
The meeting, at the Apostolic Nunciature, was a historic first for the pontiff and appeared aimed at reinforcing the Pope's expressions of regret, especially in his letter to the Irish bishops a few weeks ago.
The Holy See described the Pope's meeting with the victims as deeply moving. The victims themselves praised the Pope for his courage in meeting them and said the 35-minute encounter had given them peace in their hearts.
Earlier in the day, a crowd of some 50,000 people gathered in a drizzle for Papal Mass on the granaries in Floriana. The sun came out shortly before the Pope arrived at the historic square, where, in his homily he urged the Maltese people to reserve the faith and values
"No visitor to Malta could fail to be impressed by the devotion of your people, the vibrant faith manifested in your feast-day celebrations, the beauty of your churches and shrines. But that gift needs to be shared with others, it needs to be articulated, he said."
ENTHUSIASM
The Pope was received with enthusiasm wherever he went. People turned up in their hundreds particularly at Paola and Kalkara.
At the latter, the Pope boarded a catamaran for his crossing of Grand Harbour, accompanied by a flotilla of almost 100 small boats.
The Valletta Waterfront was heaving with some 10,000 young people who had been singing for some four hours before the Pontiff arrived.
The Pope told them that other nations could learn from Malta's Christian example.
"Here in Malta, you live in a society that is steeped in Christian faith and values. You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce. I urge you to maintain this courageous witness to the sanctity of life and the centrality of marriage and family life for a healthy society.
"In Malta and Gozo, families know how to value and care for their elderly and infirm members, and they welcome children as gifts from God. Other nations can learn from your Christian example."
The Pope's reference to other countries needing to follow Malta's example appeared to echo the call made 20 years ago in Malta by Pope John Paul II, who said that Europe needed Malta's faithful witness.
The Pope summed up his message to Malta in four lines in an address at the airport before departure.
"Be an example, at home and abroad, of dynamic Christian living. Be proud of your Christian vocation. Cherish your religious and cultural heritage. Look to the future with hope, with profound respect for God's creation, with reverence for human life, and with high esteem for marriage and the integrity of the family. Kunu wlied denji ta' San Pawl."
IMMIGRATION
He also again referred to illegal immigration.
"I am aware of the difficulties that welcoming a large number of people may cause, difficulties which cannot be solved by any country of first arrival on its own. At the same time, I am confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other states and international organisations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected."
The two-day visit was a mixture of celebration and spirituality. The high point of celebration was undoubtedly the huge welcome which some 5,000 cheering children gave His Holiness at the Palace Square, Valletta, yesterday. The children sang Happy Birthday to the pontiff in four languages as he waved from the Palace balcony, and he praised them for their enthusiasm.
The cacophony of the Palace Square was later replaced by the silent stillness of St Paul's Grotto, where the Pope prayed, alone and in silence, before a statue of St Paul in Malta's most important shrine.
The organisation of the visit went without a hitch, the only real worry having been that a cloud of volcanic ash drifting over Europe could have hindered the Pope's departure from Rome, or his return.
As it were, the Pope arrived in Malta with the Church under a cloud, and he must have left here satisfied that his visit had gone a long way to lifting it.
See the Papal Visit section of this website for reports and videos of every stage of the Pope's visit. A supplement will be carried in The Times tomorrow.
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Ellul A
Apr 23rd 2010, 00:20
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=117280141624672&ref=ts
Photos of Enthusiasm at Paola ... visit the fb page.....a memorable visit
K.M. Fiorentino
Apr 21st 2010, 17:06
«la comunità ecclesiale maltese è una realtà molto vivace. Malta - infatti - è inseparabile dalla fede cattolica che caratterizza la sua cultura e le sue tradizioni, come dimostrano le sue 365 chiese».
«È stato per me motivo di gioia, ed anche di consolazione - ha detto testualmente Papa Ratzinger all’Udienza Generale - sentire il particolare calore di quel popolo che dà il senso di una grande famiglia, accomunata dalla fede e dalla visione cristiana della vita.
Papa Ratzinger.
www.lastampa.it
Charles Azzopardi
Apr 21st 2010, 08:29
I was viewing all the activities during the pope's visit, and strangely enough I did not see anywhere in this list, something about the visit to our beautifull church and at St. Paul's Grotto.
VERY STRANGE??????????
Joe Fenech
Apr 20th 2010, 20:47
Audrey Micallef
.... "Wuppertal", (the place I mentioned earlier), is not Flemish as it is a place in Germany and NOT in Belgium, as you said "Flemish Village!''
That was an answer for Grace Cassar!!!!
Audrey Micallef
Apr 20th 2010, 22:18
I know!!!!! ;-)
MT Caruana
Apr 20th 2010, 16:08
Thank You timesofmalta...ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL
Mike F Abbot
Apr 20th 2010, 15:39
it was nice while it lasted. I don't mean the pope being here, i mean the feeling of living in a country where our taxes were being used to improve our roads etc... felt, y'know, progressive.. less third worldly. it felt like the government actually cared about it's people.
Rosanne de Giorgio
Apr 20th 2010, 11:01
I was deeply moved while watching this video. Living abroad didn't permit me to be on my island for this memorable event. However, after reading all the Pope's messages during his visit, I feel revived and proud to be a Maltese Catholic. As a nation we have so much to give and if we retain our strong Christian values, we will surely enflame all our neighbouring countries.
M Muscat
Apr 20th 2010, 10:38
@ Joe Fenech. A friend of mine lives in Munich, Germany. He came to Malta for the Pope's visit. It was his first visit to Malta. He knew about Malta. He knew about the Pope visiting Malta. Perhaps J Fenech had a problem with his english or german and did not understand what the locals were talking about!
Audrey Micallef
Apr 20th 2010, 16:32
Let's bring out more evidence to our dear Mr. Fenech... The GERMANS also had a website about the Pope's visit to Malta : "Apostolische Reise nach Malta (17-18 April 2010)" which means the Apostolic Journey to Malta, found on http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2010/index_malta_ge.htm ... where it also quotes: "Begrüßungszeremonie auf dem Internationalen Flughafen von Malta (Luqa, 17. April 2010) [Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Portugiesisch, Spanisch]" .... so dear Mr. Fenech, the WELCOMING MEMORY to His Holiness the Pope at Malta's International Airport, was announced in German, English, French, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish!!!
Also, i don't need your go ahead to bring my ''contingent'' over, as they have already & for more times than once & they ALL were amazed by OUR jewel in the Mediterranean!! And for your info, as "we will soon be flooded with Germans"..., that proves that you aren't up to date with the statistic saying that the Germans are the most people who visit Malta after the British and the Italians!! So actually, we are ALREADY flooded by them!! :-)) Adding to this, each time i fly to Berlin (which now is my second home), the aircraft is ALWAYS FULL of Germans!! :-)))
A Spiteri
Apr 20th 2010, 09:42
Maltese living in USA watched Live all the events of the Pope's visit in Malta which they said it was terrific and they were so proud to be Maltese. Well done for the organisation.
Karl Consiglio
Apr 19th 2010, 23:47
Cheesy music in this video is supposed to make you feel emotional or something?
m muscat
Apr 19th 2010, 23:22
The 500,000 euros were spent on this!
http://espresso.repubblica.it/multimedia/24147909/1/2
Good job!
Alfio Catania
Apr 19th 2010, 22:20
What an amazing experience, what a great Pope. What a great Church we have. The Pope's meeting with the youths was amazing. What an amazing experience. We were overflown with joy yesterday at the waterfront. Thousands of youths. Thanks be to God and thanks to all the youth volunteers who contributed to this success!
Audrey Micallef
Apr 19th 2010, 20:42
Mr. Fenech, dear...., then I am sure that neither you nor the people you talked to did watch some news yesterday!! For example right now, my partner is watching a 'documentary' about His Holiness visit to Malta on the "Zweite Deutsche Fernsehen", (ZDF Info), which such documentary's duration is about 1 hour, and is being shown upon OUR FATHER'S fifth Anniversary from being elected Pope!! Again..., well done to the impeccable coverage by timesofmalta.com & to all those who contributed in organizing such historic event!! Am SURE the majority of Maltese would love to welcome back His Holiness for the 2nd time round as was done with John Paul II !! :-))
Joe Fenech
Apr 19th 2010, 21:09
No, not really! But we did put the TV on several times.
Insomma, now make sure you bring your contingent over so they learn from our centre of excellence!
Joe Fenech
Apr 19th 2010, 23:38
Lovely advertising for this country of excellence. WIll be flooded by Germans soon!
Joe Fenech
Apr 20th 2010, 12:34
That's lovely and very holy of you. I'm sure your friends will discover Malta better in a visit!
Audrey Micallef
Apr 19th 2010, 18:27
@Joe Fenech.... My German partner who lives in Berlin did see the Pope's visit to Malta on the news!! Also, if I have been to Berlin around 20 times already, everyone so far knew where Malta is , as we do play an important role in our history vis a vis Germany!! I guess the people you spoke to/ asked were existing on another planet and not knowing what is going around them!! Yet again, the thousands of euros spent were more than worth it to host His Holiness on our Island!! Well done to the Organizers!!
Joe Fenech
Apr 19th 2010, 19:51
I was in Munich, dear, not in a Flemish village! Yes, OK, you're absolutely right - ALL THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT MALTA. And YES, all the Germans, French, English, Belgians, Dutch, Greeks, Czechs...were following the Pope's visit closely and all foreign stations gave it extensive coverage. Important publicity for this centre of excellence! WELL DONE!
Audrey Micallef
Apr 19th 2010, 20:57
.... and please note that "Wuppertal", (the place I mentioned earlier), is not Flemish as it is a place in Germany and NOT in Belgium, as you said "Flemish Village!''
grace cassar
Apr 19th 2010, 18:22
@ Mr. Fenech, I do not know what part of Germany you were but I live in Belgium on the Dutch Geman border for the past 30years and nearly everyone knows where Malta is and the people here are also very christian. Having a believe or faith is nothing to do with superstitious, one does not have to be a fanatic and having a faith does not only belong to the Arabs as you said. I saw the whole Papal visit on the internet and the Rai transmitted the mass the Pope celebrated at the Granaries Square for which I was very proud having my roots is floriana. So get a life and let us have our believes. Live and let Live. A huge prosit to all the organisers. Malta and the Maltese did us proud once again.
Audrey Micallef
Apr 19th 2010, 18:41
I totally agree with you!! :-) Maybe Mr. Fenech was in some place like Wuppertal in Germany, where no one wants to even get buried there!! :-)
Joe Fenech
Apr 19th 2010, 17:50
in Gonzi's eyes, Malta is a bastion of Christianity. However, the world has moved on from superstitions, and no one (apart the Arabs) is really into religion anymore. NO ONE MENTIONED THE POPE's VISIT ON TV. I was in Germany and all the people I spoke to (locals and foreigners didn't know about the visit - actually they didn't even know where Malta is!). Those 750,000E could have been put to better use...maybe a small embellishment of a town?
a caruana
Apr 19th 2010, 18:27
Religion is not about what everyone else is doing. It has nothing to do with fashion. It has to do with faith and experience. When you let yourself experience Christ in your life you will be able to understand what I'm saying. In a way it is a pity that many of us have to undergo some heavy experience or it could be a long battle till one realises that s/he has to stop and resort to God. But when we have discovered Him, we realise that He's there and that's what counts. Dear sir, the money could have been allocated to some embellishment which after a few months would have probably deteriorated, but if the Pope's visit inspired some of us, than it was an investment indeed. May the Lord fill your heart and that of all of good will with true happiness.
Joe Fenech
Apr 19th 2010, 19:59
So typically Maltese: judgemental and patronising. WHY should an atheist pay for a visit by a religious leader? Tell me that? The rest, don't worry - I can deal with my morality!
a caruana
Apr 19th 2010, 21:24
At times we all pay for things from which we might not benefit but others do. I extend my good wishes to you once again (without being the least bit patronising).
Joe Fenech
Apr 20th 2010, 20:40
I wouldn't mind paying for education, healthcare, environment for everyone, but not religion. Money for a visit should be money spent by the organisation (ie Church).
M. Vella
Apr 19th 2010, 15:44
Well done for the impeccable organisation. A very moving experience. For the first time ever, I must say... I am proud to be maltese!
David Dalli
Apr 19th 2010, 14:46
I just want to thank the Times for a great coverage of the Popes visit to Malta. That way, for us Maltese living abroad, got to enjoy the visit as well. Thanks.
James De Giorgio
Apr 19th 2010, 13:11
It was an amazing visit, one which the foreign media (apart from the Italian one) largely ignored bar the abuse headlines.
Well, no news from BBC, CNN etc is good news and their silence about the enthusiastic welcome, the huge crowds and the emotion is testimony to the success of this Papal visit.
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Apr 19th 2010, 12:52
Now that the our spiritual leader and Pope left the islands, we can all lift the veil and continue what we were really doing before and that includes being intolerant to each other on politics, immigrants, sports and towards everyone and everything under the sun, swearing and blaspheming ( I have never been anywhere in the world where this is so rampant), ruthlessly destroying my neighbour's business cos it conflicts with mine, and the list can go on endlessly..showing after all that we are absolutely no different to any other person or nation in the whole world.
Why we try to show what we are not still baffles me. We are not the champions of Christianity, no one is in today's world..trying and aspiring to reach that goal is laudable, faking it just for the show is condemnable.
David Seisun
Apr 19th 2010, 12:51
Well done for an excellent recap of this weekend
lgalea
Apr 19th 2010, 11:12
"I am aware of the difficulties that welcoming a large number of people may cause, difficulties which cannot be solved by any country of first arrival on its own. At the same time, I am confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other states and international organisations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected."
We have done much more than enough and are fed up with the illegal immigrants and for the vast majority of real true Maltese citizens they are unwanted and unwelcome and must be shown the exit.
John Smith
Apr 19th 2010, 10:22
Truly a holy and humble person who is worthy of everybody's respect, as are the local bishops. Shame on those who tried to picture the Pope in a different light, and to smear the image of the Church in Malta. Why were those same people who are advocating a strict separation between church and state miffed at the idea that the church did not issue any invitations for the Mass which extended to unmarried partners?
victor caruana
Apr 19th 2010, 10:12
Quite a profane feast very similar to a village festa but on a national scale. Instead of carrying the patron saint around, we carried the pope around. A lot of ritual, ceremony and preaching but little religious moments. Best part was meeting the paed. victims, paradoxically.
Give me mother Teresa anytime.
X Bonanno
Apr 19th 2010, 09:05
Well, what else can I say?
Grazzi Poplu Malti! Grazzi Ghaziz Missier li gejt izzurna.
Laqatni hafna kumment.... "L-ghexieren jiblogjaw u l-eluf jiccelebraw". U varament "Ha tifhem ir-ruh" ;)
Nahseb kumment tajjeb u validissimu.
Nahseb li l-poplu ta risposta bil-kbir. It-tfal taw risposta, Iz-zghazagh taw risposta, In-nisa taw risposta, L-irgiel taw risposta, L-anzjani taw risposta. Il-poplu Malti TAKOM risposta.
The recent negative blogging, vandalism against billboards, insults against the Church, and other lullalboo just had their effect, however the other way round.
That is called REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY!
Mario Farrugia
Apr 19th 2010, 08:29
Excellent minute-by-minute coverage by The Times! It could not have been better.
Well done to all concerned!
Steve Evans
Apr 19th 2010, 08:23
Is the island going to get back to its affairs now!!
C. Azzopardi
Apr 19th 2010, 08:05
'.....u l-poplu laqghu bi hlewwa liema bhalha...'
Noel Zarb
Apr 19th 2010, 00:12
Amongst the speculation this Papal Visit was one of success.
Well done to the President for the for putting the invitation in the first place and well done to all those who were involved in the logistical aspect of it all. The Camera Persons, the Audio persons, the Set Designers, the People who worked to build the set, the person in charge of the flowers, the team who organised the Youth Meeting and lastly well done to the Maltese People. We have proven yet again, even to the international media, just how much we are faithful to religion and how much we come together as one nation, irrespective of race, politics and sexual orientation, when it comes to religion and the Pope.
I am extremely glad that the Pope held the meeting with the child abuse meetings. It has surely done some good especially to the people directly involved in this. I was at the Youth Gathering and the feeling in that crowd was AMAZING.
PS - Well Done to timesofmalta.com for the impeccable coverage.
smifsud
Apr 19th 2010, 00:00
i am so spiritually revived by Pope Benedict's visit to Malta ...god bless you and Malta and its citizens and thank you for coming and lift our spirits and blessing our country ...i am a better person today ....i wish everyone happiness a health with Jesus in your hearts ...
Stefan Engelbert
Apr 18th 2010, 23:23
"was a historic first for the pontiff"
- Not true. The first of was during his visit to the United States!
Joe Fenech
Apr 18th 2010, 23:13
" I am confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other states and international organisations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected."
The Vatican, has stronger Christian roots. Why don't YOU take them and set an example for everyone!
Malcolm Mifsud
Apr 18th 2010, 22:58
Let's hope no Monday evening programme presenter gives a different picture to the Pope's humble and at the same time great demonstration of fatherly love.
Frans Sammut
Apr 18th 2010, 22:04
I have always thought the current Pope is a great deal more profound than his predecessor. Today's memorable visit has vindicated my opinion. This Pope is truly a great man. He may not be a crowd puller - he certainly is no demagogue - but he's doubtlessly a great man. A profound and wise university professor and an outstanding gentleman.
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