Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 287

of genuine trust and fruitful dialogue, and Malta is well placed to hold out the

hand of friendship to her neighbours to north and south, to east and west.

The Maltese people, enlightened for almost two millennia by the teachings

of the Gospel and continually fortified by their Christian roots, are rightly

proud of the indispensable role that the Catholic faith has played in their

nation's development. The beauty of our faith is expressed in various and

complementary ways here, not least in the lives of holiness which have led

Maltese to give of themselves for the good of others. Among these we must

include Dun Ġorġ Preca, whom I was pleased to canonize just three years ago

(3 June, 2007). I invite all of you to invoke his intercession for the spiritual

fruitfulness of this, my first pastoral visit among you.

I look forward to praying with you during my time in Malta and I wish, as

a father and as a brother, to assure you of my affection for you and my

eagerness to share this time with you in faith and friendship. With these

thoughts, I entrust all of you to the protection of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu

and your father in the faith, the great Apostle Paul.

Il-Mulej ibierek lill-poplu kollu ta' Malta u ta' Ghawdex! [God bless all the

people of Malta and Gozo!].

II

Dum Summus Pontifex invisit Specum sancti Pauli in urbe Rabat.*

Dear Archbishop Cremona,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

My pilgrimage to Malta has begun with a moment of silent prayer at the

Grotto of Saint Paul, who first brought the faith to these islands. I have come

in the footsteps of those countless pilgrims down the centuries who have

prayed in this holy place, entrusting themselves, their families and the wel-

fare of this nation to the intercession of the Apostle of the Gentiles. I rejoice

to be at last in your midst and I greet all of you with great affection in

the Lord!

* Die 17 Aprilis 2010.