Pope Benedict spoke on Malta's problem with migration when he spoke to reports on the flight from Rome to Malta this afternoon.

“Malta is the point where the currents of refugees arrive from Africa and knock at the doors of Europe. This is a great problem of our time and naturally cannot be resolved by the island of Malta," he said.

"All of us have to respond to this challenge and work so that everyone, in their own lands, live a dignified life while on the other hand do what is possible so these refugees find here where they arrive a space for a dignified life, a response to this great challenge of our times.

"Malta reminds of these problems and reminds us that it is precisely faith is the force that breeds charity and the imagination to respond well to these challenges.”