Conclave starts

Cardinals process inside the Sistine chapel

This is a historic day in the life of the Catholic Church. We pray that the Cardinals discern well with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to choose the right person for the Papacy, to lead us into the next decade and more.The first vote was inconclusive as the black smoke came out of the chimney, the target of everyone's attention over the next few days. Four more votes will taken tomorrow.

The black smoke coming out of the chimney

Conclave notes - part 4

Images of past Popes at St Paul's basilica, Rome.

Choosing a papal name is not a required Catholic practice, but over the centuries, it has become a tradition. The first pope to change his name was John II in 533. His birth name was Mercurius or Mercury, the name of a pagan god. Once an exception, the practice became tradition in 996, when Bruno, the first German pope, became Gregory V. The last pope to keep his birth name was Marcellus II in 1555.
Among the names that the new Pontiff may choose are these, with the respective Roman numeral or number after each name. He may be one of these, besides others who were chosen in the early centuries: 
John Paul III, Benedict XVII, Paul VII, John XXIV, Pius XIII, Gregory XVII, Innocent XIV, Julius IV, Leo XIV, Clement XV, Alexander IX, Sixtus VI, Urban IX, Marcellus III, Adrian VII, Callixtus IV, Nicholas VI, Eugene V, Martin VI, Boniface X, Celestine VI, Honorius V, Lucius IV, Anastasius V, Gelasius III, Paschal III, Victor IV, Stephen X, Damasus III, Sylvester IV, Sergius V, Agapetus III, Marinus III, Felix V, Theodore III, Romanus II, Formosus II, Valentine II, Zachary II, Constantine II, Sisinnius II, Severinus II, Agatho II, Adeodatus II and Vitalian II.

Cardinal Prospero Grech, OSA

After the Cardinals enter the Sistine chapel, they will hear a sermon of exhortation from an illustrious preacher, and tomorrow the preacher chosen is the Maltese Cardinal Prospero Grech. He hails from Vittoriosa, and was born on December 24, 1925. He joined the Augustinian Order in 1943 and three years later was sent to Rome to further his theological studies. He was ordained priest on March 25, 1950. Cardinal Grech has been working with Pope Benedict XVI for 20 years. Their working relationship started when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It continued to develop when Grech was nominated member of the Pontifical Theological Academy. Cardinal Grech’s election to the College of Cardinals on February 18, 2012, is first and foremost, a personal honor. It signified the great esteem in which he is held by the Holy See. His nomination as a Cardinal was in recognition of the bountiful contribution that the Church in Malta has made and continues to make to the universal Church. And his being chosen to preach at such a momentous moment is a further affirmation of this.

Conclave notes - part 3

The Pope's cassocks on display at the Gammarelli Store

The first image of the newly-elected Pope is a memorable scene that will be recorded and re-played throughout history, especially in this day and age of social media. The pope will appear at the central balcony dressed in a white cassock with the red mozzetta (half-cape,) a pectoral cross and a decorative red stole, as well as the white zucchetto (skull-cap.) The Pope would have had less than an hour to fit into all this vesture, and a tailor would be on hand to see that everything fits well, ready for any quick adjustment. Three cassocks of different sizes will be at hand, crafted by the famous religious vestment company Gammarrelli. 

Lorenzo Gammarelli holding a Cardinal's zucchetto

Along with the Barbiconi company, they specialize in Cardinals and Bishops vestments, miters, etc. 5 shoes sizes in red velvet are also at hand, one of which will hopefully fit the feet of the new Pontiff. The vesting room where the Pope gets vested is called the “Room of  Tears” as a very emotional scene occurs in there, just before the Pope is announced to the world.

Sede Vacante

Commemorative coin for the Sede Vacante - MMXIII=2013

From March 1st until a Pope is elected, the Vatican State is considered to be without any kind of leadership, even though some of the top Cardinals are still making sure work goes on as best as possible. But this is what is referred to as Sede Vacante (Vacant Seat.) Commemorative coins are issued to honor this situation and most of the Vatican stamps in circulation are over-printed with the words Sede Vacante, and they become a hot item among philatelists. The Pope is not just the leader of the Catholic Church world wide, but also the Bishop of Rome, and hopefully within a week, we should have a new Pontiff as the Cardinals start their conclave on Tuesday. 

Commemorative stamps for the Sede Vacante period

The Sistine chapel is being prepared to welcome the 115 Cardinal electors, and even the outfit which the new Pope will wear upon his election, is being displayed by the Gammarelli Religious Clothing Store, but more about this tomorrow.

Conclave notes - part 2

When the Conclave starts, it may take a few days until a two-thirds majority is reached by one of the Cardinals. The first time the conclave was held inside the Sistine Chapel was in 1878 when Pope Leo XIII was elected. Before that, elections were held either at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican itself, close to the Papal apartment, or at the Quirinale Palace, the residence of the Italian President. The above chart shows the duration of the recent conclaves, and how many votes it took to elect a Pope in each of the conclaves over the last 100 years or so.

Cardinals during a prayer service inside the Vatican

The eighth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals has decided that the Conclave will begin on Tuesday, 12 March 2013. A “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in the morning. In the afternoon the cardinals will enter into the Conclave.

Conclave notes - part 1

The urns where the voting ballots will be deposited

It is now apparently certain that the Conclave will start within a few days. All the cardinals electors are now in Rome, and in anticipation for this historic event, I share with you some important notes relating to the conclave. When the Cardinals go up to vote, they write the name of the Cardinal they prefer and then place the ballot in a receptacle or urn, and cover it with the lid. The container used to be a large ciborium, but since 1978, these urns are being used, one of which is smaller to collect the ballots of those Cardinals who are infirm and cannot be at the Sistine chapel. The ballots are then counted and the names announced, waiting for anyone to get a two-thirds majority. 

The two adjacent stoves where the ballots and chemicals will be burned

When the ballots are inconclusive, they are strung together and placed in an oven. In an adjacent stove some chemicals are burned and they create the black smoke, until of course a Pope has been chosen, at which time, a different kind of chemical is added to create the white smoke. Then both the smoke from the ballots as well as the smoke from the added chemical will mix and out of the chimney the smoke is released, black or white. Since there are two votings in the morning and two in the afternoon, the two combined ballot papers are burned together, at noon Rome time, and again at 7 PM Rome time. This would be respectively at 4 AM and 11 AM USA Pacific time. If a decision is reached after the first voting, the white smoke will appear a little earlier. The new Pope will be announced approximately an hour later with the famous words “Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum - Habemus Papam!”

The Vatican Obelisk

St Peter's Basilica with the obelisk in the foreground

An interesting story is told about the obelisk that is in the center of the St Peter’s square, where thousands of people will gather over the next few days to greet the new Pope. It was Pope Sixtus V who ordered the obelisk to be brought from Egypt and erected in the famed piazza. The obelisk was originally erected at Heliopolis by an unknown pharaoh around c. 2494 BC – 2345 BC. During its history of c. 4400 years, the obelisk has been successfully moved 3 times. The Emperor Augustus (c. 63 BC – 14 AD) had it moved to the Julian Forum of Alexandria, where it stood until year 37 A.D. In 37 A.D., Caligula ordered the forum demolished and the obelisk transferred to Rome. He had it placed along the center of the Circus of Nero, where it would preside over Nero's countless brutal games and Christian executions.
It was moved to its current site in 1586 by the engineer-architect Domenico Fontana under the direction of Pope Sixtus V. His feat of engineering took the concerted effort of 900 men, 75 horses and countless pulleys and meters of rope. The men that were brought in to help erect it, were told not to say one word while it was being brought up.  As the obelisk was being put in place, one sailor noticed that the ropes were going to break unless something is done to them. So he broke the silence and yelled “water to the ropes, water to the ropes!”
The organizers took notice of this and threw water on the ropes, and the obelisk continued its journey up in its permanent place, and no one got hurt. 

The base of the Obelisk

The Pope instead of punishing the man, wanted to reward the courageous and law-breaking sailor, named Benedetto Bresca, and he asked if he could provide the palms for Palm Sunday every year from the region where he lived. And so the tradition has been for the past 400 years that the palms are always brought from the San Remo region on the coast of Northern Italy. By the way, the obelisk is 83 feet in height and weighs 331 tons!

The Cardinals talk, discuss

Cardinals meet, talk, discuss and pray

This is a very interesting time for the 115 Cardinals who will decide who will be the next Pope. Even those over 80 are meeting together in the Vatican to talk, discuss and pray before their important conclave. Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, Canada described the atmosphere of what is about to happen over the next few days in the Vatican: “In the whole process there is a great deal that is very human. Discussion, in fact, is required. It’s part of the rule of the Conclave you must have time to discuss things, think things through. But at the same time it’s Divine. There is the praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we make this choice. There are these two dimensions which go together, like faith and reason. The Cardinals who are working together with the Holy Father in Rome, they meet one another all the time and so are very familiar with the different issues they are dealing with. The Cardinals who, like myself, are responsible for dioceses around the world, which is the majority of the voting cardinals, we are not in Rome that often – we do have to go to various meetings – but most of our responsibilities is to care for the people entrusted to our care in our own dioceses. So I think one of our chief responsibilities is to be very conscious of the needs of the Universal Church and also to get to know the other cardinals, we don’t always have an opportunity to do that and so these days before the Conclave but after the See is vacant is a tremendous opportunity for all the cardinals to discuss the issues with one another, to get to know one another better and therefore to be better prepared for the moment when those who are cardinal electors enter into the Conclave.  

A collage of the Cardinal electors, as appeared in NY Times

I think that my concern will be to listen to the cardinals from around the world. I think that in the Western part of the world, North America and Europe and so on, the issue of secularism is very important. But in other parts of the world it is not so important, there are other issues, persecution, social justice issues, many others…so I think as each cardinal speaks from his own perspective all of us will begin to get a broader picture of the whole concern that people have. Because the Holy Father has to be responsible for the whole world, and therefore sometimes, each cardinal coming from his own perspective will think certain things are very important, others not so much, whereas it’s the reverse with other cardinals, so it’s important to get the whole picture and I think that’s what we’ll do.”

Vatican stamps

Stamps with Pope John XXIII on the 50th anniversary of the Lateran Treaty

Over the next two weeks, most of my posts will relate to the Vatican and the upcoming Conclave. Today I share with you a few of the beautiful stamps that the Vatican State issues from time to time. 

Pope John Paul II's visit to the USA in 1987

They are some of the most meaningful stamps ever issued for circulation. Most of them would have the image of the current Pope, and obviously they are all related to religious topics, pilgrimages, anniversaries and other historical events. The current stamps in circulation are over-printed with the words Sede Vacante, until a new Pope is elected.

Calligraphy and Illumination issue from 1972

Benedict's Tweets

Pope-Emeritus Benedict sending a Tweet from his IPad

Since we're still waiting for our new Pope, it is worth reflecting on some phrases spoken or written by Pope-Emeritus Benedict, especially in the Tweets he shared with his followers over the past few weeks. For those who are unfamiliar with Tweeting, it is a short message not longer than 114 characters send by social media. Here are some of Benedict's tweets, worth meditating upon. The first one is actually his last tweet, a great message.
- May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ in the center of your lives.
- If only everyone could experience the joy of being Christian, being loved by God who gave his Son for us!
- Lent is a favorable time in which to rediscover faith in God as the foundation of our lives and of the Church’s life
- Everything is a gift from God: it is only by recognizing this crucial dependence on the Creator that we will find freedom and peace.
- During the season of Lent, we renew our commitment to the path of conversion, making more room for God in our lives.
- Every human being is loved by God the Father. No one need feel forgotten, for every name is written in the Lord's loving Heart.
- What does Sunday, the day of the Lord, mean for us? It is a day for rest and for family, but first of all a day for Him.
- Many false idols are held up today. For Christians to be faithful, they can’t be afraid to go against the current.
- If we have love for our neighbor, we will find the face of Christ in the poor, the weak, the sick and the suffering.
- What does the Lord ask of us as we work for Christian unity? To pray constantly, do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with Him.
- Following Christ’s example, we have to learn to give ourselves completely. Anything else is not enough.
-When we entrust ourselves to the Lord completely, everything changes. We are children of a Father who loves us, and never leaves us.
- We can be certain that a believer is never alone. God is the solid rock upon which we build our lives and his love is always faithful.
- Offer everything you do to the Lord, ask his help in all the circumstances of daily life and remember that he is always beside you.
- Everyone's life of faith has times of light, but also times of darkness. If you want to walk in the light, let the word of God be your guide.
- Mary is filled with joy on learning that she is to be the mother of Jesus, God's Son made man. True joy comes from union with God.

From Lent to Easter

St Julian's church during Lent

Many of the churches in my home country of Malta have a special way of decorating their sanctuaries. It is very somber during Lent, and very festive during the Easter season. A case in point is my native parish church of St Julian’s. It was built between 1962 and 1969, and I served in this parish from 1977 to 1981. Pope John Paul II visited this church in 1990, and for that occasion the color scheme was changed by artist Richard England, which included the colors pink, blue and purple - a strange scheme at that time, but was accepted after a while.
When I was visiting Malta during Holy Week in 2010, the Lenten decorations were quite impressive as a large purple drape covered the image of the Risen Christ above the main altar, an image made of bronze-like fibre glass, crafted by Marco Cremona. The image of the Sorrowful Mother with Christ crucified is placed temporarily on the side by the main altar.

St Julian's church at Easter

Then on Easter Sunday, the purple is removed to be replaced by the white drapes hanging around the cross, with white flowers adorning the entire sanctuary. These two photos I took clearly show the stark contrast between Lent and Easter, between penance and celebration, between the strains of “Crucify Him” and “Alleluia,” ultimately between darkness and light.

Lenten reflections

"The Crucified" by Maltese artist John Martin Borg.

Although the last two weeks of February have been overshadowed by the last few days of our Pope-Emeritus, we are still on our Lenten journey, and a few reflections are appropriate, before the conclave starts to elect the new Pope. Our focus should always be Christ, in particular the suffering and crucified Christ, on whose image we will be meditating over the next month. Last year during Lent I shared with you many reflections on the Passion of Christ during Lent, and you can always look back at past posts posted during March and April 2012. The last tweet that Pope Benedict gave to the people following his Tweeter account was very significant “May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ in the center of your lives.” May we take this tweet to heart and eventually experience every joy possible by looking at Jesus inside of us, where He will reside forever, in the center of our lives.

So Long, Benedict!

The sun sets on a Papacy - Sede Vacante starts

In his final speech to the Cardinals, the Pope gave a beautiful, deep reflection of what the Church is. He quoted Italian writer Romano Guardini, who says: ‘The Church is not an institution devised and built at table, but a living reality. She lives along the course of time by transforming Herself, like any living being, yet Her nature remains the same. At Her heart is Christ.’ Then Pope Benedict continued:”We can see that the Church is a living body, animated by the Holy Spirit, and truly lives by the power of God, She is in the world but not of the world. She is of God, of Christ, of the Spirit. The Church is awakening in souls. The Church lives, grows and awakens in those souls which like the Virgin Mary accept and conceive the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. They offer to God their flesh and in their own poverty and humility become capable of giving birth to Christ in the world today. Through the Church the mystery of the Incarnation remains present forever. Christ continues to walk through all times in all places. Let us remain united, dear brothers and sisters, to this mystery, in prayer, especially in daily Eucharist, and thus serve the Church and all humanity. This is our joy that no one can take from us.”

Pope Benedict bids goodbye to his flock

And during his final audience at St Peter’s square, the Pope said: “At this time, I have within myself a great trust [in God], because I know – all of us know – that the Gospel’s word of truth is the strength of the Church: it is her life. The Gospel purifies and renews: it bears fruit wherever the community of believers hears and welcomes the grace of God in truth and lives in charity. This is my faith, this is my joy. I would like to invite everyone to renew firm trust in the Lord. I would like that we all, entrust ourselves as children to the arms of God, and rest assured that those arms support us to walk every day, even in times of struggle. I would like everyone to feel loved by the God who gave His Son for us and showed us His boundless love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being Christian. In a beautiful prayer to be recited daily in the morning says, “I adore you, my God, I love you with all my heart. I thank You for having created me, for having made me a Christian.” Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith: it is the most precious good, that no one can take from us! Let us thank God for this every day, with prayer and with a coherent Christian life. God loves us, but He also expects that we love Him!”
Thank you Pope-Emeritus for these beautiful, rich and meaningful words. Happy retirement!

Hail to the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI in Malta, April 2010

Sharing with you today just one more photo I took of Pope Benedict while celebrating Mass in Malta on April 18, 2010. All eyes are now on Rome and specifically on the Vatican these days as the Supreme Pontiff becomes Pope Emeritus and retires in Castelgandolfo for a few months, staying in the background, dedicated to a life of prayer, while the other 115 Cardinals gather to choose his successor. More information will be coming through this blog about the conclave and other information pertaining to the Sede Vacante (Vacant See) and the Papacy.

Tu es Petrus

Tu es Petrus - You are Peter

Continuing our reflections and insights into the Papacy, I share with you today the magnificent bronze statue of Saint Peter inside the basilica dedicated to him. With his foot extended forward, millions of people have touched the foot of Peter, so much that it is worn out, smooth and shiny as if it had just been sandpapered. 

The worn out bronze foot of St Peter - actually both are worn out

The bronze statue was originally in the old St Peter’s basilica and was the work of Arnolfo di Cambio, who lived in the 13th century. Many Popes over the last 7 centuries have seen it representing their role as Shepherds of the people entrusted to their care. 

St Peter by bronze sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio

And two days before officially retiring, Pope Benedict XVI himself decided to be called “Pope Emeritus,” while still living in a monastery in the Vatican Gardens. He will be called "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" and either ‘Emeritus Pope’ or ‘Emeritus Roman Pontiff.’

The Popes at St. Paul's

The first 4 Popes at St Paul's Basilica

One of the four major basilicas in Rome is dedicated to St Paul, incidentally called ‘St Paul outside the walls,’ because of its distance from the center of Rome. The basilica is known among other things for a series of 265 medallions of the Popes that have reigned so far. They are spread through the interior of the Basilica, and some of them even on the outside. The medallions are made from mosaic and there are only two spaces left beyond Pope Benedict XVI. 

Pope Benedict's medallion in mosaic

Each one is shown with the respective name above and the years of their respective reign of Papacy. The basilica suffered much damage over the centuries but was officially re-opened in its present state in 1840. In the old basilica each pope had his portrait in a frieze extending above the columns separating the four aisles and naves. The medallions were re-installed when the new basilica was rebuilt.

More of the Pope medallions around the entire basilica

Mattia Preti

St John's Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Today is the 400th anniversary of the birth of a beloved artist who left a memorable imprint in Malta. Born in Taverna, Italy on the 24th of February 1613, Mattia Preti is one of the major exponents of baroque art of the seventeenth century who for forty years, lived and worked in Malta leaving a priceless legacy of works. After a long spell working in Rome and nearly a decade in Naples, Mattia Preti moved to Malta, attracted by the potential patronage of the Knights. Between 1661 and 1666, he painted the huge vault inside St John’s Co-Cathedral after which he was made Knight of Grace. 

A section of the ceiling vault, painted by Mattia Preti

The paintings depict various scenes from the life of Saint John the Baptist. His contribution to art in Malta is outstanding; his artworks grace local churches, then built by small rural communities which for the first time ever, could access baroque works of art by one of its major exponents. He spent the remaining 40 years of his life living and working in Malta until his death on the 3rd January 1699. Mattia Preti is buried inside St John’s Co-Cathedral.

A meaningful sculpture

A bass-relief sculpture of St Peter with the Pope

This is a photo of an impressive sculpture I came across while visiting the Vatican basilica last May. I believe I saw this bass-relief sculpture as I was going towards the Sacristy, and it shows St Peter protecting and praying over the kneeling Pontiff, and looking up towards Jesus, as if asking for a blessing. It is a perfect portrayal of what is going on right now within the Vatican, as Pope Benedict prepares for his retirement and the Cardinals head to Rome to elect his successor. Undoubtedly St Peter is working overtime right now, as will the Holy Spirit in a few days to help the Cardinals choose the right leader for the next few decades. It is a sculpture worth meditating upon over the next few days, although I wonder how many thousands of visitors, tourists and even priests and prelates pass by it without noticing it or even pondering on its pertinent meaning.

The Chair of Saint Peter

Bernini's 'Chair of Peter' bronze sculpture

Just one week before Pope Benedict resigns officially, today we celebrate the feast of St Peter, and precisely the authority of St Peter in a feast called “The Chair of Saint Peter.” Of course we do not venerate chairs as such, but the ‘chair’ or ‘cathedra’ of St Peter is very symbolic, to such an extent that his chair has been immortalized in a magnificent sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini behind the main altar at St Peter’s basilica. It is actually a part of the colonnade above the main altar, the massive chocolate-colored baldacchino that dominates the interior of the basilica. Next to the chair are the 4 Fathers of the early church, St Ambrose, St John Chrysostom, St Augustine and St Athanasius. Above the chair is a stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit in yellow texture. The bronze sculpture was crafted between 1647 and 1653 by Bernini. 

Original chair of Saint Peter

The original chair of Peter is preserved, although in a very worn-out state. It was transferred from the church of Santa Prisca to the Vatican, and was exposed to the public once a year. However it was encased with the Bernini masterpiece, where it still is, protected mostly because of its fragile structure. For 200 years it was kept hidden and protected, but in 1867 it was exposed to the faithful to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of Sts Peter and Paul.

An important bell

The bell on the left side of the Basilica, just beneath the clock.

Once the Pope is elected, the bell of St Peter’s Basilica will announce the big news. Of course the white smoke will also signify that a Pope has been chosen, but sometimes, the smoke is grey, and many people are unsure if it’s black or white. Last time in 2005, it was the ringing of this bell that affirmed that a decision has been reached. And once the bell started swinging ever so slightly, the whole crowd erupted in cheers and jubilation. That may also be the case this year when in mid-March we expect a new Pontiff. Over the next few weeks, I will continue to share with you some great photos I took while in Rome and at the Vatican last year in May.

Head or forehead

Pope Benedict receiving ashes on his head

Ash Wednesday was a week ago, but I wanted to share with you a comment on the difference of the imposition of ashes in Europe and the USA. When I was growing up in Malta, the custom always was to place the ashes on top of the head. Moreover, the ashes were made of burnt olive branches, which made for brown-grey coloring of the ashes. The priest would place a tiny bit of ash on top of the head, as we see Pope Benedict receiving his ashes last week. The priest would pick up the ash with the thumb and forefinger, as if you were adding a pinch of salt on your soup cooking in a pot. 

On the other hand, here in the USA, we burn palm branches which make for a black type of ashes, which are marked right on the forehead, with the priest using his thumb. Either way, it is a symbol of repentance and penance.

Pope Benedict in Malta - part 3

Two more photos of Pope Benedict XVI while celebrating Mass in Malta in April 2010. We know that Pope Benedict made fewer tips abroad than his predecessor, precisely 25 trips. Pope John Paul II made 104 official trips outside Rome, not to mention the many shorter trips within Italy. Some of these trips were long and exhausting, practically around the entire globe. I can fully understand the effects of jet-lag, and then he is asked to speak in public as soon as he lands, not to mention the many speeches and appointments he has to keep over a few days, barely recovering from jet-lag. Personally speaking, whenever I visit my family in Malta, I need 4 to 5 days to get reoriented and recover from jet-lag.

The Pope preparing to distribute communion

Pope Benedict in Malta - part 2

Pope Benedict approaching the altar with the Floriana church in the background

The Papal Mass was held on Sunday April 18, 2010. It was raining that morning, but as soon as the Pope appeared, the sun starting its reign, which incidentally burned my head, and so my fear of a wet day turned out to be a sun-tan session at Floriana. Thousands of people attended the Mass, waving Maltese and Vatican flags. This was the third time a Pope celebrated Mass in the largest open-air space in Malta. Pope John Paul II had visited Malta in 1990 and again in 2001.

The Pope incensing the altar at the start of the Mass.

More photos of the Pope during the Mass will follow over the next two weeks, just to commemorate the last few days of Benedict's papacy, which ends on February 28.

Temptations in our lives

This first Sunday of Lent, we read in the Gospel about the three temptations that Jesus experienced in the desert, which can very well be described as temptation of magic (‘turn these stones into bread,’) temptations of power (‘bow down and adore me’,) and temptations of fantasy (‘throw yourself down from here.’) Temptations are real in our lives too. Just reflect on these:
It’s tempting to stay in bed or at home, but it’s much better getting up, get dressed and get to church.
It’s tempting to surf the Internet aimlessly, but it’s much better reading some useful sites, including this blog, updated daily.
It’s tempting to ignore family members at home while watching TV, but there’s something to gain by interacting with your loved ones, your spouse, children, especially sharing dinner together.
It’s tempting to speed up when you’re driving on the highway, but it’s better to be cautious, follow the speed limit, and get to your destination safely.
It’s tempting to criticize and condemn others, but it’s better to appreciate what so many people do to make your life better.

Pope Benedict in Malta - part 1

Papal stage being built, with the Floriana church in the distance

Back in April 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited Malta for 2 days, and I was honored to concelebrate Mass with him, along with another 800 priests and large number of Bishops. Over the next 2 weeks, I thought it would be an excellent way of sharing some historic photos I took that day. I was told later that all the priests were informed not to take any cell-phones or cameras with them, but I was not told about this, and discreetly I took over 200 photos during the Mass, some of which I am happy to share with you as the Pope nears the end of his pontificate. 

Papal stage nearing completion

These first two were taken a few days earlier, as the large stage was being constructed at Floriana, where the Mass was held. The third one shows the floral arrangements done for that day, all yellow flowers, beautifully displayed.

Papal stage with yellow flowers

Knights of Malta - 900 anniversary

Knights of Malta processing towards the Basilica of St Peter's.

The Knights of Malta, one of the most peculiar organizations in the world, marked its 900th birthday last Saturday with a colorful procession through St. Peter's Square, a Mass in the basilica and an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, himself a member of the onetime chivalrous order drawn from Europe's nobility. It turned out to be one of the last official functions led by the Pope before he announced his surprised resignation on Monday February 11.
The Knights are at once a Roman Catholic religious order, an aid group that runs soup kitchens, hospitals and ambulance services around the globe, and a sovereign entity that prints its own passports and enjoys diplomatic relations with 104 countries — yet has no country to call its own. Some 4,000 people processed through St. Peter's Square and into the basilica for the Mass marking the 900th anniversary of the order's recognition by the Holy See. Pope Benedict thanked the order for its service and urged it to continue providing health care for the world's neediest while staying true to its Christian ideals. The order's work, he said, "is not mere philanthropy but an effective expression and a living testimony of evangelical love."

The order traces its history to an 11th century infirmary in Jerusalem set up by a monk to care for pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. During the Crusades, as the order's humanitarian efforts spread, it took on a military role to protect pilgrims and Christendom as a whole from Muslim attacks. In February 1113 Pope Paschal II recognized the order with a papal bull establishing its sovereign status by saying it was independent of both lay and other religious authorities. The order's international legal status is entirely unique, a sovereign entity that prints its own stamps, coins, license plates and passports, yet has no territory over which it rules. Its forces once occupied Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta, but Napoleon expelled the order from Malta in 1798. Nonetheless they will always be known as the Knights of Malta.