The logo being used for Pope Benedict's visit to Malta on April 17 and 18 was launched this morning. Mgr Charles Cordina told a news conference the logo used a lot of blue reflecting Malta's characteristic of being surrounded by sea, it included a boat, which represented St Paul's shipwreck, and the boat's mast was the cross.
The colours of the boat and the mast were yellow and white, the colours of the Pope.
The logo was very simple but catching and appropriate, he said.
A total of 17 people submitted 24 designs in a competition with 26-year-old Gozitan Mario Abela, a teacher at the St Theresa College in Birkirkara, emerging as the winner.
The theme chosen is "nevertheless, we must run aground on some island". It was chosen because it was closely related to the shipwreck of St Paul which was to be the focal point of the Pope's visit to Malta.
Pope Benedict shall be arriving in Malta on April 17 at 5 p.m., leaving the day after at 7 p.m.
He will be met at the airport by the President and will then be taken to the Palace in Valletta. A ceremony at St Paul's Grotto will be held.
The Pope's second major activity will be his meeting with young people at the Waterfront. Pope Benedict is expected to arrive at the Waterfront on a boat from Kalkara, Fr Savio Vella said.
Fr Vella said that gate at the Waterfrontwill open at 1 p.m. on April 18. The meeting will be at 5.15 p.m. but it will be preceded by a programme of activites. Even though open to the public, the event was aimed specifically at youths and a number of places were to be especially reserved for young people, who will eventually be able to register and book a place online.
Fr Jesmond Manicaro said the mass chosen for the Pope's visit was that composed and written by John Galea for the 25th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Gozo bishop Mario Grech. Six masses were submitted for consideration and the winner was picked up by a committee in Rome.
He said that two choirs - one made up of adults and another one with children were to be set up. The adult choir was to have 120 people, the children's choir 100. Auditions are being held at the Curia on January 29 and 30 for adults and on February 6 for children.
The St Monica Choir, led by St Benjamina Portelli, was chosen for the St Paul's Grotto celebrations.
Fr Anton Portelli said that a DVD and a book about the Pope's visit would be issued following the visit. Two medals, one silver plated and one silver, would also be availabe and people would be able to preorder.
The motto and logo can be downloaded from the Curia's website. The detailed programme of events will be made public on February 10.
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