The spokesman for the Holy See, Fr Federico Lombardi, remained non-committal this evening over whether the Pope would meet alleged victims of alleged child abuse in Malta.

"These things are never announced in advanced" he said, adding that should a meeting be held, the media would be told about it afterwards.

Fr Lombardi said the welcome of the Maltese people was better than expected.

A touching moment, he said, was was when the Pope met children with disabilities outside the Palace including two who are terminally ill.

He estimated that 100,000 people had welcomed the Pope in Malta.

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