PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY

VISIT TO MALTA OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY
OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL ENNIO ANTONELLI

Saturday, 27 June 2009

H.E. Cardinal Ennio Antontelli arrived in Malta today, Saturday 27^th June, 2009. He was greeted at the Malta International Airport by Mgr. Tommaso Caputo, Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Mgr. Paul Cremona, Archbishop of Malta and Mgr. Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo. On behalf of the Government of Malta, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs also greeted Cardinal Antonelli at the airport.

Cardinal Ennio Antonelli’s first official visit was held at 5pm when he visited Dr George Abela, President of the Republic of Malta, at the President’s Palace in Valletta. This was followed by a visit to Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta, in his office at Auberge de Castille in Valletta. Cardinal Antonelli was presented with a book, whilst Cardinal Antonelli reciprocated by presenting Dr Lawrence Gonzi a book and the medal of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. This evening, Cardinal Antonelli visited St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat where a celebration was held.

In a short interview broadcast during the main news bulletin on the national television station, Cardinal Antonelli encouraged the Maltese people to remain strong in their faith in today’s globalized world. Speaking about his visit in Malta, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli explained how it was Pope Benedict’s desire to be represented in Malta by his Cardinal for the celebrations marking the end of the Pauline year.