A friend of mine asked me about the title of my piece last week. “He came. He saw. Did he conquer?” He wanted to know why the last part was a question and not a straight statement. I said that I wanted to create a discussion but promised to address the subject further in this week’s commentary.

Some aspects of the Pope’s visit point strongly to a yes answer. The Maltese’s warm welcome of Pope Benedict XVI was dampened neither by the weeks-long negative coverage by the international media nor by the cool drizzle of Sunday morning. Perhaps, these negative manmade or nature-induced occurrences fuelled the enthusiastic welcome.

The Maltese initially welcomed the Pope more than they welcomed Benedict XVI. They were familiar with the office which is respected and loved thanks to our’s faith. The latter most only knew through the media’s stereotypical portrait. This projected a cold, withdrawn and beleaguered man. The office is marked with Christ’s promise as the office of a victor even if a suffering victor. The latter i.e. Benedict the person, is marked by the media as a loser; nay a suffering loser. The encounter with the Pope made us all realise that the flesh and blood Benedict is different that the media-cast one.

Stealing hearts

Those who met him personally, even for a few seconds, could feel that Benedict is a spiritual giant in the guise of a frail man. People discovered a warm person who cares and loves. His is a penetrating look. When he spoke, people were inspired. His speeches were relatively short. The economy of their word-count was amply counterbalanced by the depth of their thoughts and the incisiveness of their reflections. His actions, especially his meeting with the men alleging abuse by some religious, were louder than his words. Benedict could cry as well as smile; he has a humane heart besides a fine brain. This is an integral man.

The thousands who lined the streets stared singing and chanting Viva l-Papa. Wherever he went, the people followed. They immediately fell in love with him. They could see that the frail and media-embattled man was, after all, strong and victorious. They went there to support him but instead were buttressed by him. He stood in the Popemobile or on the catamaran or an the specially prepared platforms waving and smiling. However, the thing he did most was stealing hearts. Those who saw him from closer quarters were much more impressed that the rest. Ask those whom he distributed communion to, or presented the mass offerings or shook his hand or who think he waved in their direction and you will get the same answer.

Viva Benedettu

Viva Benedettu little by little replaced Viva l-Papa.

Perhaps we should not have been surprised by this auspicious welcome. Hospitably greeting others is probably part of our national DNA. Our ancestors showed this characteristic 1950 years ago. They welcomed Paul at the point in time when he seemed totally destitute and embattled. However, he turned out to be the holder and the giver of the gift which profoundly marked our personal and national identity: Christianity. Paul’s visit was an accident of history; Benedict’s was a carefully planned one. Benedict, like Paul, came to us severely embattled. He came to ask us whether this gift is being renewed or forgotten and to encourage us to “to cultivate a deep awareness of your identity.”

Our Christian influenced identity

While there is little doubt that he conquered most hearts there is still a question mark about other aspects of his visit. This was not just form. It also has content mainly through his speeches. We welcomed Benedict and in more sense than one he conquered our hearts; but could we say that we also welcomed his message?

He mentioned a number of responsibilities that flow from our Christian identity. Let me refer to just a few:

Our Christian identity propels us to “continue to play a valuable role in the ongoing debates on European identity, culture and policy”.

It will also help us live up to our Mediterranean vocation by serving “as a bridge of understanding between the peoples, cultures and religions which surround the Mediterranean”.

In the international fora and on the national scene we should continue “to stand up for the indissolubility of marriage,” “the true nature of the family” and “the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death and for the proper respect owed to religious freedom in ways that bring authentic integral development to individuals and society.

Our Christian identity impels us to fulfil our international and Christian obligation towards immigrants that arrive on our shores “some fleeing from situations of violence and persecution, others in search of better conditions of life.”

The Pope acknowledged that we cannot fulfil this duty alone but we need the help of the international community.

I think that it is very clear that the vast majority of our people still want to build our present and plan our future by living to the full our identity indelibly marked with the Christian ethos. This endeavour has to include all Maltese even those whose visions and worldviews are different from the Christian vision. This is not an easy task but it is neither an impossible task. It is doable. I believe that within our culture and identity there exist many common elements between the ethos of the Catholic majority and that of the small minority of adherents to other religious or those of no religion. Dialogue and synergy can flower.

After all, as the Pope said, unity, solidarity, tolerance, reciprocity and mutual respect stand at the basis of our social and political life.