Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday walked along the wooden path that leads to the massive altar set up at the Floriana Granaries for the Papal Mass on Sunday morning.
There he got a chance to witness first-hand the hard work involved in the preparations and give renewed energy to the tired but enthusiastic workers.
Although there are hundreds of things left to do, the organising committee is confident everything is moving according to schedule and the feedback it is receiving is encouraging.
"Extending an invitation is easy but actually making things happen is much harder," Mgr Cremona told Church and government volunteers working around the clock in Floriana.
He said this would be a "powerful experience" for the Maltese.
When asked about the 11 men claiming they were abused at the hands of priests and requesting a meeting with the Pope, Mgr Cremona said Pope Benedict XVI's schedule was very tight and many different groups wanted an audience with him. "I cannot give the Pope any advice. I am going to meet these men and will do so wholeheartedly. But what the Pope does will not depend on me," he said.
Addressing the press, Church spokesman Fr Charles Tabone jumped in to say that, despite the inflexible schedule, the Pope could still make time to meet the alleged victims (see separate story).
Meanwhile, the organising committee was in high spirits and Mgr Charles Cordina, its chairman, said thousands of people had already sought accreditation for the Papal Mass.
Those who are invited for the various events during the programme are required to accredit themselves to ensure that invitations are not handed over to other people.
During his visit, the Archbishop was handed his own accreditation badge, with access to all areas. "Does this mean I won't be allowed in if I don't bring it along," he asked jokingly.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 people are expected to flock to the Granaries on Sunday, he said.
He said the feedback had been very encouraging and made up for the sacrifices many of the volunteers were making.
Thousands of children and youths have also confirmed their attendance, another Church spokesman said.
When asked whether they were expecting more people to attend this time round compared to when Pope John Paul II arrived in 2001, the organisers simply said there was a great deal of enthusiasm from all sorts of people. "The hundreds of phone calls we receive every day and the thousands of requests for accreditation prove this," Church spokesman Kevin Papagiorcopulo said.
The organisers stressed everyone was invited to take part in this celebration.
"I hope the Pope witnesses a joyful Church," Mgr Cordina said.