The pastoral visit from 2 to 3 April the Pontiff will speak of peace and dialogue, of the end of the war in Ukraine and of welcoming migrants who desperately disembark on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The interview with Don Marc Andre Camilleri Roberto Montoya
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The visit of Pope Francis touches the cities of Valletta, Rabat, Floriana and the Island of Gozo
Francis, after John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and the third Pontiff on a visit to Malta, a historically Christian country known for the shipwreck on its coasts in which Saint Paul was saved around the year 60 AD. postponed in 2020 precisely because of the pandemic. Touch the cities of Valletta, Rabat, Floriana and the Island of Gozo. A visit with which the Pontiff speaks of peace and dialogue, the end of the war in Ukraine and the welcome to the refugees who desperately land on the Mediterranean Sea.
The Maltese Church is made up of two dioceses: the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malta and the Suffragan Diocese of Gozo. Vocations in the archipelago in the last ten years have dropped dramatically from 36 to just 12 seminarians today. In Malta, despite being considered one of the “cradles” of Christianity in Europe, and being able to count on as many as 365 Catholic places of worship distributed throughout the territory, only 34% currently participate in Sunday mass, a decrease in attendance perhaps due to the closure of churches during the health emergency.
After the official meetings in Valletta, the Pope will go for a prayer meeting on the island of Gozo at the sanctuary of Ta ‘Pinu; On Sunday 3 April he will be visiting the cave of St. Paul, in the Basilica of Rabat, a place where the Catholic tradition indicates the welcome and the beginning of a new evangelization after the shipwreck of the Apostle; in Floriana, in the largest square in the country, he will celebrate Mass; in the afternoon the pontiff will visit the Migrants at the “Giovanni XXIII Peace Lab” Center, renewing the message of solidarity as he did on the island of Pantelleria and Lesbos.
Malta, a historic meeting place between heterogeneous areas, placed as it is at the center of the lines that ideally join Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and also one of the countries on the migration route, and the visit of Pope Francis becomes controversial for part of the Maltese population who he prefers to help immigrants in their home. In the country, which still remembers the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who denounces the degradation of politics, the shadow of corruption still weighs.
The visit of Pope Francis will be an opportunity to renew the spirit of welcome, generosity and care for others, that “rare humanity” addressed to those who have landed on this island for centuries knocking on the door of Europe.
We met Don Marc Andre Camilleri,parish priest of the Basilica of Christ the King in Paola (Malta)
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Don Marc Andre Camilleri Malta how it is preparing for this event
The country has experienced very convulsive moments with the last political elections and until last week the arrival of Pope Francis was not a priority. Our island is very small, it has about 500 thousand inhabitants and the population in this period was very distracted by other things. Now many of us are focused on the importance of this event, which we are experiencing with trepidation. For the Holy Mass we have already confirmed 11 thousand presences, more than 2000 are still on the waiting list. Francesco will have a warm welcome. And a Pope who is pleasing, welcoming. The whole country awaits his arrival.What is the symbolic and concrete value of Pope Francis’ trip to Malta
For us Catholics, the arrival of Pope Francis is very important, it has great significance, it reminds us that we are members of the universal church, that we are united in one Faith. The presence of Francis reminds us that we must be united in our differences and invites us through our witness to imitate and bring the message of Jesus to every corner of our Island. Then there is a historical relationship between Malta and San Paolo; over the years it has been followed by Benedict XVI and John Paul II, today by Pope Francis, to want to testify that we are all in the footsteps of Paul. In concreteness, this visit will be a reason for renewal in the Faith and for the spirit of welcome towards the other.What is the social, political and economic climate that Pope Francis will find on the arrival of Malta
Since Benedict XVI’s last visit, Malta has changed a lot, both in terms of religious experience and in the practice of faith. Unfortunately, the pandemic has dealt the final blow. The churches were closed twice, especially during Easter and Lent, just at the moment when many faithful had returned to attend the church. We are still in a fragile and confusing situation. I wish with all my heart that the presence of Pope Francis could encourage the Maltese to return to church and thus reinvigorate our faith. However, the local Churches worked hard in organizing this visit. Instead, about the social climate
The social climate has also changed a lot with regard to some issues, such as the family, the legal use of cannabis, and at this moment in parliament issues such as abortion and euthanasia are under discussion. Our society is experiencing things that were not there before, even corruption is an evil that weakens our society. To start again we need to understand where we have failed, at what point we have lost ourselves to try to find the right path. Pope Francis will visit the cave of San Paolo. And a strong message of welcome for migrants
Pope Francis’ visit to the Apostle Paul’s cave has two meanings: the message is associated with the cradle of our faith. Malta without faith is not Malta, just as Malta without Saint Paul would be very different. It is something that is part of our identity. St. Paul was received with much love and human warmth. Pope Francis will visit a center for migrants from which he will send out a message that will be a welcome warning to our younger brothers. So many people are desperately crossing the Mediterranean in search of a better life, we must be aware of this and we have a duty to welcome them. But Malta is also a very small and overpopulated island, and managing the continuous arrivals and the many reception procedures is not easy because there are so many difficulties. I don’t think anyone wants to leave their country violently. But we have to find a solution, to see in depth the roots of the problem together with the whole international community, starting from solidarity.The word Malta means “safe harbor”. It is really so today
We must distinguish one thing, the Church has a love for welcoming others, without leaving anyone out, but our reality is another and it is not easy. There are so many difficulties, the church is criticized for her position. But we, on the other hand, are always in the trenches where problems are faced daily face to face. Many inhabitants of Malta do not think so. In fact, the visit of Pope Francis for many Maltese is a bit controversial. Giving priority to immigrants then means that responsibility falls on our shoulders and a burden that alone is difficult to carry on. Corruption is a very dear topic to the Pontiff. What is the situation in your country
We are going through a very difficult time especially on the problem of corruption that is poisoning our society. There are many open investigations in the courts in which acts of degeneration have been found. It is not an exclusive problem of Malta, by now it has spread all over the world, but we see that people have lost their minds over money, bringing society to the limit of degradation and throwing the strong principles of our culture and our society behind their backs. , such as the value of honesty, fairness and the defense of the common good. Someone also said that Pope Francis would visit Malta to celebrate the victory and bless the newly elected government … others that you come to exorcise it, or that another time should have been chosen for the visit to our country … as you can see, we are close to madness!Pope Francis will also meet victims of abuse
There seems to be nothing in this regard, but the situation is delicate. Cases have recently surfaced, but we are confident that justice will take its course. The Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna has worked very well in the fight against this horrible plague, I do not hide from you that I would very much like Pope Francis to meet the victims. Our diocese is working seriously, but a change of mentality is needed. Until recently there was a strong feeling of silence, but when things come to the surface the damage is worse. We must continue on this path, be sincere, strive to seek a correct life, I am also speaking of us pastors of the universal church. Then if the words and documents are not accompanied by actions, they have no value.
