Before the meeting Pope Benedict celebrated a large open-air mass in Valletta, attended by thousands of people.

The pope's last event in Malta was a meeting with young people on Valletta's waterfront, where he arrived by boat. He told the youth that today's culture promotes ideas and values that are different from those of Jesus. It is easy when one is young and impressionable, the pope said, to be swayed by peers to accept ideas and values that do not belong to Jesus.

Malta's society, the pope said, is steeped in Christian faith and values.

"You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce," said Pope Benedict.

Pope Benedict's visit to Malta was aimed at commemorating the 1,950th anniversary of the shipwreck of Saint Paul on the island.