A flotilla of nearly 100 small boats escorted Pope Benedict as he crossed Grand Harbour on a catamaran this afternoon.

Fog horns blared and historic cannons were fired by re-enactors at the Upper Barrakka as the catamaran made its way slowly from Kalkara to the Valletta Waterfront.

The scene was reminiscent, although smaller and more orderly, than the welcome given to Pope John Paul II in 1989 when he sailed into Grand Harbour after returning from Gozo.

Pope Benedict spent most of the trip sitting on a white chair in front of the bridge, chatting to a group of 10 young people who sat on the deck around him.

Earlier, he had been given a rousing welcome by the people of Kalkara, who waved papal flags as two bands played.

The catamaran followed an AFM patrol boat out of Kalkara Creek, with regatta boats on either side.

They were joined by a large number of other boats as they rounded Fort St Angelo, forming a long trail on the fairway as the catamaran headed for the waterfront.

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