Pope Benedict XVI in Malta

Pope Benedict visited the Mediterranean island of Malta from April 17 to April 18. Though at first glance this may seem superficially short, his trip teemed with sightseeing and outreach, including a Mass at the Floriana Granaries and a meeting with sexual abuse victims.

As publicly released on the Vatican website, Pope Benedict outlined three important reasons for his excursion to reporters on April 17. The first is Malta’s celebration of 1,950 years since Saint Paul shipwrecked on the island. The Pope, therefore, noted the particular relevance of Paul’s message at the conclusion of his Letter to the Galatians, “faith working through love.”

Second, the Pope conveyed his affinity for being “in the midst of a lively Church.” He cited the flourishing condition of vocations there. “I know that Malta loves Christ and loves his Church which is his Body, and knows that even if this Body is wounded by our sins, the Lord loves this Church nevertheless and his Gospel is the true purifying and healing force.”

Third, the Pope reminded us that it is precisely at Malta “where waves of refugees arrive from Africa and knock at Europe’s door.” This should move us to help Malta in providing for the refugees, showing a true spirit of charity. Once the pope landed in Malta, there was a welcoming ceremony at the International Airport of Malta, which preceded his visit to the Cave of Saint Paul.

At the Cave of Saint Paul, Pope Benedict highlighted the unexpectedness of Paul’s own visit to Malta. The meaning of this for us, then, is to realize sometimes God has different plans than we conceive on our own. His Holiness observed, “Sailors can map a journey, but God, in his wisdom and providence, charts a course of his own.”

The following day, Pope Benedict celebrated a liturgy at the Floriana Granaries. After this he met with a group of people who were victims of sexual abuse by clergy. They convened at the Apostolic Nunciatore, according to the official Vatican report. He listened and sympathized with their suffering, conveying his own shame about what they endured while also praying with them.

Pope Benedict “assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future.”

The penultimate activity of His Holiness in Malta was a meeting with the native youth.

He exhorted them not to become discouraged if at times Saint Paul did not seem to be loving in his correspondence. Pope Benedict taught that what may seem too demanding from God is actually a love that is exacting precisely because it is so deep and intense for us.

The Pope said, “Because he loves us so much, he wants to purify us of our faults and build up our virtues so that we can have life in abundance. When he challenges us because something in our lives is displeasing to him, he is not rejecting us, but he is asking us to change and become more perfect.”

Extending this sentiment, the Pope later closed his trip with remarks at the International Airport of Malta, where he quoted Saint Paul saying, “Let all that you do be done in love.”

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