Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Pope Benedict XVI yesterday discussed various themes including irregular immigration and the way this problem has affected Malta. During an official audience at the Vatican City yesterday, Dr Gonzi invited the Pope to visit Malta at his earliest opportunity.

In his comments to Maltese journalists who accompanied the Prime Minister in Rome, Dr Gonzi described the meeting as “cordial” and as one which highlighted the Pope’s esteem of Malta and the esteem of the Maltese population of the Pope.

Dr Gonzi said that among the most important themes they discussed during their tête-à-tête, which lasted around 15 minutes, was that of the plight of irregular immigration and how this was affecting Malta and the Maltese and other Mediterranean countries.

The issue was discussed in the context of poverty, solidarity and the underlying belief that these people are innocent and unfortunate people who are victims of the circumstances in their native countries.

He said he assured the Pope that Malta, as a European Union member state, was contributing significantly for the EU to see to the matter.

Dr Gonzi said another issue which they discussed was that of the challenges society had to face as times, and the values which people believed in, changed. He told the Pope that the family unit in Malta is one of the population’s most precious values and they discussed the challenges families were facing in this day and age. He said the country was striving at strengthening the family unit.

The Prime Minister informed the Pope that Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Malta’s new Archbishop Paul Cremona were “very well and positively received” and said that the Pope was pleased at this news.

The Pope and the PM also spoke about the canonisation process of Dun Gorg Preca whose second miracle was confirmed just a week ago. In this context, Dr Gonzi invited the Pope for an official visit to Malta, especially if this visit would coincide with the conclusion of the canonisation process. On his part, the Pope promised to visit the island at his earliest opportunity but no dates were mentioned.

When asked, Dr Gonzi said the two did not speak about the discussion on divorce at EU level. He said Malta will continue to insist that the Maltese Law Courts will continue to implement Maltese laws and not laws in other European countries, including divorce and abortion.

Speaking about bilateral relations between Malta and the Vatican City, the Prime Minister said the two had excellent relations and mentioned the nine agreements Malta signed with the Vatican City.

Asked to comment further on the Pope’s esteem of Malta, Dr Gonzi said the Pope knows Malta very well especially since there are a number of Maltese and Gozitan clergy occupying high-ranking posts at the Vatican.

He said that after he invited him to visit Malta at his earliest convenience, the Pope remarked that the Maltese officials at the Vatican had already extended this invitation to him personally beforehand.

As custom dictates, following their meeting, the Pope and Dr Gonzi exchanged gifts. Dr Gonzi gave the Pope a silver bas-relief of Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St John the Baptist, work of silversmith Adrian Gauci.

On his part, the Pope gave Dr Gonzi a fountain pen in the form of a miniature reproduction of one of the four columns supporting the altar at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Moreover, he also gave Dr Gonzi a silver pontifical medal.

For Mrs Gonzi and Mrs Frendo, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo’s wife, the Pope gave them exquisite Mother of Pearl rosary beads.

After his meeting with the Pope, the Prime Minister had a one-to-one meeting with the Secretary of State of the Vatican City, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Four journalists – half the Maltese press who flew to Rome to report the Maltese Prime Minister’s first official audience with the Pope – were not allowed to enter the Vatican building where the meeting was being held “for security reasons.”

Before leaving the Vatican City, the Maltese delegation visited the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II.

Prime Minister Gonzi and Dr Frendo arrived in Malta yesterday evening, in time for the Thanksgiving Mass of outgoing Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, which brought to an end his 30-year pontificate.