[SLIDESHOW] Pontifical visit sets ball rolling for revision of Church-State relations

Malta's historical ties with the Vatican will continue to be nurtured and respected, but both sides understand that a revision of a 1993 agreement between the two states is now required with urgency.

This was the message Prime Minister Joseph Muscat relayed to the press after a brief colloquy with Pope Francis I, followed by a meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican this morning.

Muscat, who was accompanied by his wife Michelle and two daughters, as well as by foreign minister George Vella and junior minister Owen Bonnici, repeatedly stressed the need for an 'expeditious' resolution to the ongoing problem concerning an existing Church-State agreement governing marriage laws.

This concordat, signed by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in 1993, ceded automatic precedence to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal over civil courts, in cases where proceedings are initiatied before both courts.

"For us it is a matter of pinciple that the courts of the State cannot be subservient to any foreign jurisdictions," Muscat said. "His Holiness explained that he is aware of the problem, and our concerns were met with understanding."

Foreign minister George Vella added that while both the Pope and Cardinal Bertone were aware that the concordat was a cause of concern in Malta, it was news to both that people often exploit the legislative advantage enjoyed by the Church tribunal to unnecessarily prolong litigation unnecessarily.

In view of this, and also in the context of the recent introduction of divorce, the Church authorities agreed with the delegation of the Maltese government that ther issue must be addressed with urgency.

"We have decided to set up a mixed commission, consisting of two government representatives and two Church officials, to examine the way forward,"Muscat said. "Again, I stress that it is imperative for this issue to be resolved in the shortest possible time."

However Muscat was guarded on other aspects of Malta's legislation that may need revision. A similar situation involving the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta - where the Church retains the authority to 'veto' lecturers, even if the university is part of the apparatus of the state, is currently "not on the government's radar", Muscat said.

Moreover the Prime Minister gave Pope Francis his assurance that the status quo with regard to abortion will not change - despite pressure by the Council of Europe to introduce an exception in cases where the mother's life is in danger.

In the same meeting Muscat informed Pope Francis of his government's intention to introduce civil partnerships for same sex couples by the end of the year. Asked if he felt pressured to raise this issue during today's meeting, Muscat said that he "didn't want to be hypocritical".

"It is my intention to have an open relationship with the Holy See."

Asked for a personal reaction to his meeting with Pope Francis - who also consented to meet the entire delegation, including all members of the press - Muscat said that the media reports of the Pope's humility left one unprepared for the real thing.

"I was expecting to meet a humble Pope, but the impression you get of him from the media doesn't do him justice at all. The reality is much more impressive than what you see on TV."