Pope ends Malta visit
April 18, 2010
Pope Benedict's 27-hour visit to Malta came to an end this evening after it made the international headlines when the Pontiff looked the child abuse issue in the eye by holding an unscheduled meeting with its victims.
The meeting, at the Apostolic Nunciature, was
a historic first [???] for the Pontiff and
appeared aimed at reinforcing the Pope's expressions of regret, especially in his letter to the Irish bishops a few weeks ago.
['Appeared aimed at nothing' except for what it was - a sincere desire to reach out to individuals who have been immeasurably harmed!]
The Holy See described the Pope's meeting with the victims as deeply moving. The victims themselves praised the Pope for his courage in meeting them and said the 35-minute encounter had given them peace in their hearts.
Earlier in the day, a crowd of
some 50,000 people gathered in a drizzle for Papal Mass on the granaries in Floriana.
[Media reports earlier said it was hoped at least 10,000 would come - that they did not think it would have the crowd of 30,000 that John Paul II drew in Floriana on his last visit.]
The sun came out shortly before the Pope arrived at the historic square, where, in his homily he urged the Maltese people to preserve their faith and values:
""No visitor to Malta could fail to be impressed by the devotion of your people, the vibrant faith manifested in your feast-day celebrations, the beauty of your churches and shrines. But that gift needs to be shared with others, it needs to be articulated," he said.
The Pope was received with enthusiasm wherever he went. People turned up in their hundreds particularly at Paola and Kalkara.
At the latter, the Pope boarded a catamaran for his crossing of Grand Harbour, accompanied by a flotilla of almost 100 small boats.
The Valletta Waterfront was heaving with some 10,000 young people who had been singing for some four hours before the Pontiff arrived.
The Pope told them that other nations could learn from Malta's Christian example.
"Here in Malta, you live in a society that is steeped in Christian faith and values. You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce. I urge you to maintain this courageous witness to the sanctity of life and the centrality of marriage and family life for a healthy society.
"In Malta and Gozo, families know how to value and care for their elderly and infirm members, and they welcome children as gifts from God. Other nations can learn from your Christian example."
The Pope's reference to other countries needing to follow Malta's example appeared to echo the call made 20 years ago in Malta by Pope John Paul II, who said that Europe needed Malta's faithful witness.
The Pope summed up his message to Malta in four lines in an address at the airport before departure.
"Be an example, at home and abroad, of dynamic Christian living. Be proud of your Christian vocation. Cherish your religious and cultural heritage. Look to the future with hope, with profound respect for God's creation, with reverence for human life, and with high esteem for marriage and the integrity of the family. Kunu wlied denji ta' San Pawl."
He also again referred to illegal immigration.
"I am aware of the difficulties that welcoming a large number of people may cause, difficulties which cannot be solved by any country of first arrival on its own. At the same time, I am confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other states and international organisations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected."
The two-day visit was a mixture of celebration and spirituality. The high point of celebration was undoubtedly the huge welcome which some 5,000 cheering children gave His Holiness at the Palace Square, Valletta, yesterday. The children sang Happy Birthday to the Pontiff in four languages as he waved from the Palace balcony, and he praised them for their enthusiasm.
The cacophony of the Palace Square was later replaced by the silent stillness of St Paul's Grotto, where the Pope prayed, alone and in silence, before a statue of St Paul in Malta's most important shrine.
The organisation of the visit went without a hitch, the only real worry having been that a cloud of volcanic ash drifting over Europe could have hindered the Pope's departure from Rome, or his return.
As it were, the Pope arrived in Malta with the Church under a cloud, and he must have left here satisfied that his visit had gone a long way to lifting it.
In his remarks to the Pope at the airport tonight, President George Abela thanked Pope Benedict for finding the time to personally meet Maltese victims of alleged child abuse.
“We were all moved today to learn that you personally met victims who allege abuse who requested to see you and that they found comfort in your words that I am sure will relieve some of the pain they have suffered for many years.
“Your sensitivity to their plight fills us with joy and I wish to thank you for finding the time to personally address this delicate issue.”
The President told Pope Benedict that his spirit would stay on “to continue nourishing our faith for a long time to come”.
Dr Abela said:
“Your blessings have fortified our faith, your gentle manners and kind words have warmed our hearts, your fatherly concern for our youth has endeared you to them, your inspired teaching has helped us all to understand better the beauty of Christian charity.
“Your presence among us and your travelling through our parishes, as the vicar of Christ and successor of Peter, will continue to enrich our lives and hopefully make us better Christians and better citizens.”
Dr Abela said he was confident Maltese Catholics would continue to openly and eloquently profess their faith and the Christian values of charity and solidarity and endeavour to share these gifts with others, in Malta and abroad.
The Pope’s visit, the President said, gave the people renewed strengthened to face the future more securely.
President Abela hoped His Holiness would take with him happy memories of his visit to the Island of St Paul and its inhabitants, their faith and hospitality recorded in the Holy Scripture.
“We, therefore, express our profound gratitude to you, ask for your blessing and wish you a safe journey to the Eternal City.
“Berikna u l-vjagg it-tajjeb.”
THE HOLY FATHER'S FAREWELL TO MALTA
Vatican Radio has released the text of the Holy Father's farewell address:
Mr President,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The time has come for me to bid farewell to Malta. I thank God for the opportunity to meet so many of you and to visit this beautiful island. I thank the President for his gracious words and I thank all of you who have given me such a warm and generous welcome.
My journey has given me a deeper appreciation of how the Gospel preached by Saint Paul has shaped the spiritual identity of the Maltese people.
As I leave you, let me encourage you once more to cultivate a deep awareness of your identity and to embrace the responsibilities that flow from it, especially by promoting the Gospel values that will grant you a clear vision of human dignity and the common origin and destiny of mankind.
Be an example, at home and abroad, of dynamic Christian living. Be proud of your Christian vocation. Cherish your religious and cultural heritage. Look to the future with hope, with profound respect for God’s creation, with reverence for human life, and with high esteem for marriage and the integrity of the family! Kunu wlied denji ta’ San Pawl!
On account of its geographical position in the heart of the Mediterranean, many immigrants arrive on Malta’s shores, some fleeing from situations of violence and persecution, others in search of better conditions of life.
I am aware of the difficulties that welcoming a large number of people may cause, difficulties which cannot be solved by any country of first arrival on its own.
At the same time, I am also confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other States and international organizations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected.
These noble goals depend on an unwavering dedication to the challenging task of dialogue and cooperation within the international and European communities, key forums in which Malta bears witness to the Christian values that have helped to shape her identity.
Unity, solidarity and mutual respect stand at the basis of your social and political life. Inspired by your Catholic faith, they are the compass that will guide you in the search for authentic and integral development.
The treasure of the Church’s social teaching will inspire and guide these efforts. Never allow your true identity to be compromised by indifferentism or relativism.
May you always remain faithful to the teaching of Saint Paul, who exhorts you to “be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor 16:13-14). Grazzi ħafna, il-Bambin iberikkom!
Here is a nice quick essay from the English service of Vatican Radio. Too bad the producer did not sign his name. But bless him...
Pope leaves Malta -
An island of faith
(18 Apr 10 - RV) Two images remain burned in the mind of many those of us who accompanied Pope Benedict XVI to Malta. The face of Lawrence Grech, a victim of abuse by clergy as a child, in the aftermath of his personal encounter with the Pope in the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat - The rosary gifted him by Pope Benedict hung around his neck, and his words, “peace... closure... courage".
The second is the face of Pope Benedict, an 83-year-old man, at the helm of a Church that of late has had to face the worst of storms.
And in the worst of storms the Pastor of the Universal Church came to Malta. The same Mediterranean Island where 1950 years ago Paul ran aground and first gave Christian hope to the Maltese people. A faith that down through the centuries remains undiminished.
In Acts the Saint himself writes of the people’s hospitality. From Pope Benedict’s arrival at Luqa international airport Saturday evening they stood four deep on the pavements to greet him. In Valetta the children filled the air with their song, in St Paul’s Grotto, the living Church of Malta presented Pope Benedict with their many missionaries - descendants of the great evangeliser.
Twice the Pope appealed to them not to abandon their faith, not to allow the winds of secularism that blow from the continent distract them.
At Mass in Granary Square in Floriana, he said: “No visitor to Malta could fail to be impressed by the devotion of your people, the vibrant faith manifested in your feast-day celebrations, the beauty of your churches and shrines. But that gift needs to be shared with others, it needs to be articulated”.
To the 10,000 young people who had sung themselves hoarse waiting for their Pope as he crossed Grand Harbour, to the sound of ship horn and cannon, he told them not to give in to peer pressure in a Europe where Gospel values are counter-culture.
“You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce. I urge you to maintain this courageous witness to the sanctity of life and the centrality of marriage and family life for a healthy society”.
At Luqa airport Sunday evening the Pope gave the entire nation a mandate:
“Be an example, at home and abroad, of dynamic Christian living. Be proud of your Christian vocation. Cherish your religious and cultural heritage. Look to the future with hope, with profound respect for God's creation, with reverence for human life, and with high esteem for marriage and the integrity of the family.
Kunu wlied denji ta' San Pawl."
But one memory will remain with me in particular, Fr. John Cassar, a Jesuit Priest and the refugee’s mural on the walls of his office that spoke of war and of violence, sea journeys and detention,but also a window of blue Maltese sky, and the promise of hope.
As he took his leave Pope Benedict’s parting words were of Charity:
“I am aware of the difficulties that welcoming a large number of people may cause, difficulties which cannot be solved by any country of first arrival on its own. At the same time, I am confident that, on the strength of its Christian roots and its long and proud history of welcoming strangers, Malta will endeavour, with the support of other states and international organisations, to come to the aid of those who arrive here and to ensure that their rights be respected”.
And so, mission accomplished!
DEO GRATIAS!
BENEDICTUS QUI VENIT IN NOMINE DOMINI!
TOMORROW, THE FIRST 'LUSTRUM'...
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 18/04/2010 22:59]