Pope's message to Maltese Catholics

POPE John Paul has called on Maltese Catholics to begin "a new era where division is replaced by harmony and where hostility is dissolved by the forces of fraternal respect and Christian love."
The call was contained in a papal message to Archbishop Joseph Mercieca of Malta and Bishop Nicholas Cauchi of Gozo marking the opening of a year-long preparation for the Ninth International Mariological Congress in Malta.
"Spiritual renewal ,will involve further efforts at reconciliation in the pursuit of precious national unity — the unity of brothers and sisters in freedom. justice and charity," the Pope said in his English-language letter.
Pope John Paul also told Maltese Catholics that the
communion of the Church 'requires from its members mutual respect. fraternal support and loving obedience to the pastors of the flock."
This summer Archbishop Mercieca was at the centre of a church-state controversy. The 53-year-old archbishop, who has headed the Malta Archdiocese since 1976, flew to Rome for consultations with Vatican officials after Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff announced that he had asked the Pope to remove the archbishop from his post. Mintoff's criticism of Archbishop Mercieca was related to a dispute between the ruling Labour Party and the opposition Nationalist Party over a proposal by the Nationalists to make June 29. the feast of Sts Peter and Paul. a national holiday.