Why Was the Cross Missing From the Podium Where Pope Francis Spoke to Immigrants in Malta?

In his recent trip to Malta (April 2-3, 2022), Pope Francis predictably addressed African immigrants who see this island as a gateway to the European Union.

The Argentine pope is one of the most ardent supporters of the continuous waves of primarily Muslim immigrants taking over Europe in a peaceful invasion.

Indeed, instead of assimilating the old continent’s culture and religion, they close themselves into ghettos (many of which the police do not dare enter) and behave as conquerors of the land. Mosques are increasing in number while Catholic churches are closed or sold for various profane purposes.¹

The Cross Removed to Please Muslims?

Pope Francis delivered his speech from a podium set up in a reception place for immigrants. But the organizers did not want the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ—the symbol of our Catholic Faith—to be present when the Vicar of Christ (a title that Pope Francis renounced some years ago²) would speak.

A March 29 article posted on Malta’s archdiocesan web site explained the crucifix’s absence: “The podium will not be adorned with a crucifix given that the majority of migrants are Muslim.”³

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In fact, Islam hates the symbol of our Redemption because it loathes the very notion of Redemption, the Word of God Incarnate who sacrificed Himself for us on the Cross.

According to Mohammed, “Jesus” (who for him was not God but just a mere prophet) will return at the end of time to destroy all crosses.⁴ Historian and journalist Raymond Ibrahim, who closely monitors the persecution of Christians by Muslims, shows how there have been numerous cases of Christians recently killed or violently beaten by Islamists for wearing crosses.⁵

So, to avoid displeasing the enemies of the Cross, the symbol of our redemption was excluded from the place where the pope was to greet predominantly Muslim immigrants.

Saint Paul Preached Christ Crucified

Naturally, the news that the Cross would be absent from the papal podium—and, moreover, the reason given for its absence—provoked many reactions.

Dr. Philip Beattie, an economist, and professor at the University of Malta, president of Pro Malta Christiana, drew the following contrast: “Saint Paul preached ‘Christ crucified—a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles’ when he brought the Gospel to Malta. The Apostle boasted in the scandal of the Cross. Why is the pope ashamed of the Cross before Muslims, especially during Lent?”⁶

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Dr. Beattie went on to comment: “The majority of the illegal immigrants trafficked to Malta on rickety boats leaving the Libyan coastline are not genuine refugees, but economic migrants—and are mainly Muslim young men aged between 18 and 28.”⁷

The president of Pro Malta Cristiana, a group of lay Catholics who defend the values of Christian civilization, inspired by the thought of Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, concluded: “Francis said nothing about the anti-family onslaught unleashed by the LGBTQ+ lobby and their socialist allies during his address to Malta’s president, George Vella. He also remained silent on Prime Minister Robert Abela’s threat to discuss the introduction of euthanasia and extend ‘full reproductive rights’ and ‘genetic screening’ for unborn babies in the Labour [Party’s] 2022 electoral manifesto. Vella and Abela are both Catholic.”⁸

Abandoning the Cross Where the Knights of Malta Gave Their Lives to Defend It

Raymond Ibrahim highlights the symbolic aspect of abandoning the Cross of Christ in the very place where in 1565 the Knights of Malta and the Maltese gave their lives to defend it.⁹

The Grand Master of the Order of Malta or Saint John of Jerusalem, Jean Parisot de la Valette, exhorted his knights to give their lives for the Faith with these beautiful words:

“It is the great battle of the Cross and the Koran, which is now to be fought. A formidable army of infidels are on the point of investing our island. We, for our part, are the chosen soldiers of the Cross, and if Heaven requires the sacrifice of our lives, there can be no better occasion than this. Let us hasten then, my brothers, to the sacred altar. There we will renew our vows and obtain, by our Faith in the Sacred Sacraments, that contempt for death which alone can render us invincible.”¹⁰

With the help of Providence and a greater than human heroism, the Knights of Malta put the huge Turkish fleet to flight.¹¹

Whoever Is Ashamed of Christ. . .

To forsake the Cross on a solemn occasion is to be ashamed of Christ Our Lord.

In the Gospel of Saint Luke, we read the Divine Master’s terrible words about those who are ashamed of Him and His doctrine: “For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Hiding the Cross of Christ from those who hate it for doctrinal reasons (like the Muslims) is the same as being ashamed of the Cross, the Savior, and His doctrine. It suggests to those coming to a Christian continent that they need not convert to the True Faith.

“God Wants All Religions”

Why would Pope Francis worry about the Muslim immigration invasion of Europe when he signed a document that states: “The pluralism and the diversity of religions . . . are willed by God in His wisdom”?¹²

If all religions are willed by God, and He can only want what is good, this is equivalent to saying that all religions are good and lead to God regardless of their beliefs and ceremonies. This heresy puts Our Lord Jesus Christ on equal footing with Mohammed, Buddha, and all sorts of idolaters.¹³

In so doing, is the pope not ignoring Our Lord’s Great Commission to the apostles: “Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned”? (Mark 16:15–16.)

Adding Insult to Injury

In a face-saving attempt by the papal visit organizers, the Archdiocese of Malta web site deleted the compromising sentence from the article explaining why the Cross was not on the papal podium: “The podium will not be adorned with a crucifix given that the majority of migrants are Muslim.”

But it was too late, as many people had read (and copied) that article before the archdiocese censored it.

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Worse still, the Times of Malta, where the article in question had initially been published, republished it after the deletion without the revealing phrase. However, at the end of the article, it placed this note: “Amended April 16, 2022: A previous version stated that the podium did not have a crucifix because most migrants were Muslim.”¹⁴

That shows the bad faith of the Archdiocese of Malta, led by none other than Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna, Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith!

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Photo Credit:  Mr Prasanna Welangoda  CC BY-SA 2.0 – changes made.