Show of devotion, support

The drizzle failed to stop thousands from flocking to the Granaries in Floriana at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot to see Pope Benedict XVI celebrating Mass.

Septuagenarians Carmen Stafrace, Josephine Theuma and Ġuża Farrugia, who caught the bus individually from Msida, Ta' Xbiex and Gudja, were among them.

All dressed in dark shades of blue, it was easy to assume they were friends who decided to wear matching frocks, but the three women had never met one another. Until, that is, they all got tired standing up and decided to go to Mall Garden, behind the Granaries, to rest their legs and ended up sitting on the same bench.

Ms Stafrace, 75, Ms Theuma, 76, and 79-year-old Ms Farrugia had flocked to Floriana with the same intention - and they bonded in their mission to offer support to Pope Benedict XVI during this time of controversy.

The grey skies were forgotten as church bells pealed joyously, and people, holding colourful umbrellas, clapped and sang "Benedettu, Benedettu"; a chant that reverberated across the square.

Although the rain was not heavy, the continuous drizzle soaked promotional hats and Mass handbooks but failed to dampen spirits.

The Granaries is used to the sound of fog horns during a pre-election mass meeting. This time it was Pope Benedict XVI who was the recipient of the mass meeting-style greeting.

Just as the Mass was about to begin, the sun's rays broke through the cloudy sky. Sunscreen and hats quickly replaced umbrellas as people from all over the world mingled on the Granaries, some climbing on trees and other high spots they could find.

Mark Micallef, from Mosta, had woken up early and was in Floriana by 5.30 a.m. to find a good spot on the Granaries.

"This is a one-time opportunity. Attending is a must," the 24-year-old said.

His efforts paid and he managed to secure a spot at the front. The light rain did not faze him. "I came equipped with an umbrella, so I should be ok," he said.

Mr Micallef had seen the Pope on Saturday, when he passed through his hometown of Mosta and again in Rabat. Although he had not seen Pope John Paul II during his last visit to Malta as he was studying, Mr Micallef had an audience with the late Pope when he visited the Vatican as an altar boy in 2004.

"He had called on us to keep our faith in God, and I have photos which are priceless," he said.

A sense of solemnity took over when Mass started and people focused on following from their booklets, especially since Mass was celebrated in three languages. The streets emptied out as crowds congregated at the Granaries or remained glued to the television to follow the celebration.

A cautious 26-year-old pregnant woman, Christine Falzon, brought along her own chair and sat by the side, unwilling to brave the crowds and risk being pushed around, but wishing the screen and stage were a bit higher so she could see the Pope.

Even a frail 83-year-old, the Pope's peer, did not give up trying to catch a glimpse. But Maria Mamo's high-tech walker would have made it harder for her to penetrate the crowd.

Not one to be easily discouraged, she said: "The Lord provided me with this walker, which also doubles as a seat."

Joyce Mizzi, from Santa Venera, was convinced that hearing the Pope's message would help her strengthen her faith. The 56-year-old said she was there to give him support in "this moment of need", and described the Pope as a "reserved person" but whose words went straight to the point.

The congregation in the back attempted to get a glimpse of the Pope, while the last couple of rows of the VIP seating remained empty. But others resigned themselves to simply hearing the word of God, having positioned their portable seats even by the mobile toilets, away from the crowd. At the far back, close to the gardens, smaller crowds gave up trying to get a closer look, so they settled down to munching pastizzi, timpana, Twistees, and chocolate. Children complained they were bored and tired standing. Some played with handheld consoles or made new friends.

But the devotion witnessed overall was powerful. Helen Cassar, 74, said she cried on Saturday as she saw the Pope pass in front of her in Luqa, describing the feeling "as if Christ was passing in front of me". She felt yesterday's turnout on the Granaries was "a proclamation of faith".

She believed the visit would "cleanse us as Christians" since it would differentiate between those who were committed and genuine Christians and those who just paid lip service to religion.

Her husband, 77-year-old Carmel, said Malta was sending a message of faith through the whole world through its welcome.

Similarly, Silvia Gravino, from Swieqi, said the numerous people who went to the Mass were a sure sign faith was still strong and there was a thirst for the Word of God. The 59-year-old said it was unfortunate Pope Benedict had come after a very charismatic Pope.

Max Cini, 18, believed going to the Mass was part of the road he needed to take to become a better Christian. He had seen Pope John Paul II during his visit, and was very happy there was a second visit by a Pontiff after 10 years.

A police officer said the organisation ran smoothly, although there were some minor incidents. Adrian Micallef, a doctor volunteering with one of the four medical stations, said there were a few elderly who fainted out of fatigue. While some may have wished for better weather, Dr Micallef saw the positive side to it: "At least it avoids dehydration and fainting."

Carmelo Dingli, 61, from Santa Venera, and his 57-year-old wife, Jane, believed that despite people's perceptions, Pope Benedict had a good way of attracting people. They agreed he was "like a magnet".

Reporting by: Juan Ameen, Cynthia Busuttil, Claudia Calleja, Fiona Galea Debono, Christian Peregin, and Kurt Sansone.