'Be proud of your Christian vocation'

Pope Benedict left the island yesterday saying his visit had given him a deeper appreciation of how the Gospel preached by St Paul had shaped the spiritual identity of the Maltese.

He urged them to embrace their responsibilities by promoting Gospel values.

"Be an example, at home and abroad, of dynamic Christian living. Be proud of your Christian vocation. Cherish your religious and cultural heritage," he exhorted just before boarding an Air Malta flight back to Rome at 8.15 p.m., an hour behind schedule.

He urged a continued reverence for human life and high esteem for marriage, and expressed confidence that Christian Malta would help immigrants and respect their rights.

Immigration has been a hard reality to swallow for many Maltese and the Pope said he understood the difficulties that arose from welcoming a large number of people fleeing persecution or searching for a better life.

But "at the same time, I am also confident that on the strength of its Christian roots and its long proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour... to come to the aid of those who arrive here and ensure their rights are respected".

Pope Benedict made sure to mention the tiny Mediterranean island needed the support of other states and international organisations. These difficulties, he said, could not be solved by any country on its own.

The Church's social teaching would inspire and guide the Maltese in their efforts towards solidarity and mutual respect. Never allow your true identity to be compromised by indifference or relativism, he said.

"May you always remain faithful to the teaching of Saint Paul, who exhorts you to 'be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love'".

His parting message was in Maltese: "Grazzi ħafna, il-Bambin iberikkom! [Many thanks and may God bless you!]

Malta has stringent anti-abortion laws and is one of just two countries in the world that has no divorce legislation; two stands which, together with immigration, Pope Benedict kept referring to throughout his short visit.

"You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce," he said earlier, when addressing some 10,000 young people who packed the Valletta Waterfront waving flags and singing.

"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," he said, his speech interspersed with Maltese sentences that sent the crowd into rapturous applause.

"La tibżgħux tkunu ħbieb intimi ta' Kristu," he said. (Do not be afraid to be intimate friends of Christ).

Today's culture, like every culture, he said, promoted ideas and values that were at variance with those preached by Jesus Christ. They were often presented persuasively and were reinforced by the media and groups hostile to the Christian faith.

The message echoed the defence of the Church against a contemporary culture hostile to religion and God. In fact, he stressed that the values of the Church had become counter-cultural again, as they were when St Paul was an apostle.

In this vein, he warned youth of these social pressures and encouraged them not to fear these challenges.

"It is easy, when we are young and impressionable, to be swayed by our peers... that is why I say to you: do not be afraid... trust Him... and find nourishment and spiritual healing in the sacraments of the Church."

Pope Benedict also encouraged the young people before him to be open to the possibility of the Lord's calling in this year for priests.