Welcoming Pope Francis

When the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Malta in 60 AD, he was welcomed with "extraordinary hospitality." Nearly 2,000 years later, as Pope Francis prepares to travel to the Mediterranean island nation for his visit tomorrow and Sunday, there is hope that the same spirit of welcome to new arrivals will reinvigorate the local church, as migration is set to be a major issue on yet another of Francis' trips abroad. He will be greeted as a herald of mercy, encouraging us to continue to offer a safe haven for migrants and foreigners. Pope Francis has emerged as one of the world's leading champions for migrants, although his appeal was often encountered with fierce opposition, especially from small European countries that have felt overwhelmed by new arrivals from North Africa and the Middle East. Given Malta's close proximity to both regions, several thousands of migrants a year are rescued at sea and eventually disembark in Malta. A vast number of those rely on the Catholic Church’s institutions as they navigate their new lives. Malta has become an important stepping stone of people wanting to move north to Europe, and the physical location of the island means there is great responsibility and great burden to bear at the same time. The challenge of migration that Malta faces daily stems from a European Union rule (known as the “Dublin Regulation”) requiring new arrivals to seek asylum in the first country in Europe in which they arrive, creating a disproportionate responsibility for the small nation of just over 500,000 residents. During his 2 day visit, Pope Francis will meet and speak to the migrants, besides visiting the place where St. Paul stayed, the smaller island of Gozo, and celebrate Mass on Sunday morning, during which I will be honored to concelebrate with him and 600 other priests. This visit will also provide a word of comfort, a word of mercy and also an invitation to go back to our roots to address the concern of what it means to be a Christian in today's world. Stay tuned over the next few days for more reports on his visit.