February 10, 2010. The Vatican announced the agenda for the papal visit to the tiny Mediterranean island set to take place on April 17th and 18th of 2010 to commemorate the 1950th anniversary of St. Paul's shipwreck.



The Pope's itinerary includes a Sunday Mass on the Granaries in Floriana, a meeting with young people in the ancient capital Valletta and a trip to St. Paul's Church and Grotto in Rabat.

According to tradition, the church is erected above a grotto where Saint Paul took refuge after his shipwreck. Despite the site’s religious significance, it has been nearly 20 years since a Pope descended into the grotto. The last time was when Pope John Paul II travelled there in May 1990.

JR
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