The Pope thanked the President and all the Maltese people for the "very warm welcome" he received last month. In a letter delivered to President George Abela yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI said his visit to Malta was a "very joyful one" and it was "also moving to meet some of those who allege abuse by members of the clergy".

That meeting, held at the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat on April 18, was not in the original schedule of the visit but turned out to be a highlight of the Pontiff's two-day visit last month.

The letter, dated April 19, a day after the visit ended, was delivered to Dr Abela at San Anton Palace by Apostolic Nuncio Tomaso Caputo.

Pope Benedict also mentioned the "fervour with which the Catholics in your islands live their faith, especially the young", alluding to the meeting he had with 14,000 young people at the Valletta Waterfront on the last day of his visit.

"Finally, I am confident that Malta will continue to be faithful to the wonderfully rich Christian heritage which I witnessed and to be worthy sons and daughters of their great father in the faith, St Paul. With renewed thanks, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and to all the beloved people of Malta," the letter ended.