Cynthia Busuttil
Pope says Malta's welcome was 'really extraordinary'
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Pope Benedict XVI has described the "warm welcome" given by the Maltese as "really extraordinary" and expressed his gratitude to the country's authorities and the people.
"For almost 2,000 years, the history of that people has been inseparable from the Catholic faith, which characterises their culture and traditions. It is said that there are 365 churches in Malta, 'one for each day of the year', a visible symbol of this profound faith," he said.
The Pontiff yesterday dedicated his speech during his weekly public audience in St Peter's Square, Rome, to his Malta trip.
He said after 2,000 years from St Paul's visit, the Maltese were still faithful to the Gospel and sought to associate it with the complex questions of modern age, something that was not always easy or automatic.
However, he said, the Maltese found answers to the new challenges in the Christian view of life, which was especially shown through the profound respect for the unborn child and the sacredness of marriage.
He said that despite its geographical position, Malta was not isolated from the world and retained contacts with various countries, and there were also Maltese priests in many other nations.
"The strategic position of this small archipelago obviously attracted the attention of various political and military powers. Yet nonetheless, the most profound vocation of Malta is its Christian vocation; in other words, the universal vocation of peace. The famous Maltese Cross... has never lost its authentic and perennial significance; it is the sign of love and reconciliation, and this is the true vocation of peoples who welcome and embrace the Christian message," he said.
Pope Benedict described his meeting with young people at the Valletta Waterfront as a "moment of profound and intense dialogue", rendered more beautiful by the Grand Harbour and the enthusiasm of youths.
In his speech he also reiterated the Church's determination to tackle abuse by clergy, three days after meeting a group of alleged victims during his 27-hour visit to the island.
"I shared their suffering, and greatly moved, prayed with them," he said in his first public comments about the issue since he met the eight men on Sunday afternoon.
He said he assured the victims the Catholic Church would take action against abuse.
Similarly to the press release issued by the Holy See following Sunday's meeting, Pope Benedict referred to the men as "victims of clergy abuse", rather than "alleged victims", even though the local dioceses' response team and the Maltese courts have not yet closed their respective cases.
The men, who claim to have been abused by priests while living at St Joseph's Home in Sta Venera, will be meeting President George Abela tomorrow. Ten men have been testifying in court in a case behind closed doors that has been going on since 2003.
The Pontiff again spoke about the immigration problem faced by the island, which lay "at the centre of migration routes" that "naturally brings problems; complex humanitarian, political and juridical problems".
He said the solutions "must be sought with perseverance and tenacity, harmonising efforts at the international level", adding this should be done in all nations that have Christian values at their root.
His Holiness called for the "intercession of the Apostle Paul, of St Ġorġ Preca, priest and the first Maltese saint, and of the Virgin Mary... that the faithful of Malta and Gozo may always grow in peace and prosperity".
In a short press release, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech yesterday expressed their gratitude to Pope Benedict for his "attention and love" shown during last weekend's visit. They thanked the people for their heartfelt welcome and the organisers. The bishops said they were committed to reflect on the teachings of the Pope.
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Joe Zammit
Apr 23rd 2010, 09:05
An increase in priestly and religious vocations will surely be one of the results of the Pope's visit among us. This has happened also in the other previous occasions and occurred abroad as well.
The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. That's why we have received the Pope as if Christ himself had come on our Catholic islands. Of course, we have also the possibility of receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist, where Christ is present in his body, blood, soul and divinity. The Holy Eucharist is the same person, human and divine, of Christ himself.
The Pope is Christ's Vicar on earth because the Church Christ has founded is made up of human beings and as such they need to be organized as a body, with a head who, in the case of the Church, is the Pope.
The Catholic Church, as the one holy Church of Christ, is the Mystical Body of Christ.
Sabrina Borda
Apr 23rd 2010, 08:24
You can quote till kingdom come, it does not make any difference. We can all read, but not all can reason.
renald williams
Apr 22nd 2010, 16:22
quote ‘‘called for the "intercession of ’’
Jesus intercedes for us... pray to Jesus directly ... peace... health
Il-Katekizmu tal-Knisja Kattolika
Pagna 118 Paragrafu 432
Hu l-Isem ta’ Alla biss li jaghti s-salvazzjoni, u issa jista’ jissejjah minn kulhadd ghax… mkien taht is-sema ma hemm Isem Iehor moghti lill-bnedmin li bih ahna ghandna nkunu salvi.
Pagna 129 Paragrafu 480
Gesu’ Kristu hu veru Alla u veru bniedem… ghalhekk hu l-Medjatur wahdieni bejn Alla u l-bnedmin.
Pagna 138 Paragrafu 519
U issa wkoll hu [Kristu] id-Difensur taghna quddiem il-Missier, dejjem haj biex jidhol… ghalina.jibqa’ dejjem jidher ghaliha quddiem Alla.
Pagna 162 Paragrafu 618
Kristu il-medjatur wiehed bejn Alla u l-bniedem.
Pagna 173 Paragrafu 662
Gesu’… biex issa jidher ghalina quddiem Alla. Kristu fis-sema… dejjem haj biex jidhol ghal dawk li bih jersqu lejn Alla.
Pagna 173 Paragrafu 667
Gesu’ Kristu… jidhol dejjem ghalina bhala medjatur taghna u jizgurana li l-Ispirtu s-Santu jibqa’ dejjem jissawwab fina.
Pagna 179 Paragrafu 687
Dawk li jemmnu fi Kristu jaghrfuh [lil Alla] ghax jghammar fihom.
Pagna 198 Paragrafu 771
Kristu, il-medjatur wahdieni.
Pagna 420 Paragrafu 1709
Min jemmen fi Kristu jsir iben Alla.
Pagna 421 Paragrafu 1715
Min jemmen fi Kristu ghandu l-hajja gdida fl-Ispirtu s-Santu.
renald williams
Apr 22nd 2010, 16:21
quote ‘‘called for the "intercession of ’’
Jesus intercedes for us... pray to Jesus directly ... peace... health
Kristu… li jidhol… ghalina. Rumani 8:34.
Kristu Gesu’ Sidna: li fih ghandna l-hila nersqu b’qalbna qawwija bil-fidi li ghandna fih. Efesin 3:11-12.
Isalva ghal kollox lil dawk li bih [Gesu’] jigu ghand Alla, billi hu [Gesu’] dejjem
haj biex jidhol ghalihom. Lhud 7:25.
Kristu… jidher issa ghalina quddiem Alla. Lhud 9:24.
Jekk xi hadd minnkom jonqsu l-gherf, ha jitolbu ‘l Alla. Gakbu 1:5.
Jekk nitolbuh [Gesu’ Kristu] xi haga skond ir-rieda tieghu, jismaghna. 1 Gwann 5:14.
Bl-isem ta’ Gesu’ Kristu… U lanqas f’hadd iehor ma hemm salvazzjoni: ghax ma hemm ebda isem iehor taht is-sema moghti fost il-bnedmin, li bih nistghu nkunu salvati. Atti 4:10, 12.
Ghandna bhala avukat… lil Gesu’ Kristu l-gust. 1 Gwann 2:1.
Medjatur wiehed bejn Alla u l-bnedmin: il-bniedem Kristu Gesu’. 1 Timotju 2:5.
Hu [Gesu’] l-medjatur ta’ rabta ahjar. Lhud 8:6.
Ghalhekk hu [Kristu] l-medjatur tar-rabta l-gdida. Lhud 9:15.
Gesu’ l-medjatur ta’ rabta gdida. Lhud 12:24.
Sellum wieqaf fl-art, u rasu tilhaq sas-sema: u, ara, l-angli t’Alla kienu telghin u nezlin fuqu. Genesi 28:12.
...is-sema miftuh, u l-angli t’Alla telghin u nezlin fuq Bin il-bniedem. Gwann 1:51.
Joe Zammit
Apr 22nd 2010, 15:43
The Pope was not speaking in legal terms. To date we have no Maltese paedophile priest.
Also when the Response Team concludes its work, the situation legally will not change. It will change only if and when a priest is convicted by our criminal court either at first or second instance.
The Response Team is not a criminal court. It is important for the Church and is giving sterling service but falls short of a court.
Robert Mallia
Apr 22nd 2010, 16:50
This is indeed right and indeed worrying ... after what happened at Dar San Guzepp.
Sabrina Borda
Apr 22nd 2010, 11:16
Geographicaly we are indeed not isolated from the world, that is why we are very well aware that in Italy where the Vatican stands as our closest of neighbours where Divorce is PERMITTED, WHILE THEY ARE NO LESS CATHOLIC AS US.
Joe Zammit
Apr 23rd 2010, 08:52
Christ is against divorce because divorce is an evil. Divorce is a great social evil. It is harmful to all people. God knows more that us what is good for us. We must work ONLY for the stability of families!