You are right that leaders represent thier people. Now the vast majority of Maltese are Catholics. So the PM is not just showing hid beliefs but those of the majority of the people. The example of Cameron is different as most British people are non Catholic or anti-Catholic while an Italian Prime Minister would not probably be criticised for kissing the Pope’s ring. The King of Spain and even non Catholic Arafat have kissed the Pope’s ring.

[Daphne – I am no more anti-Catholic than I am anti-gay, David. Live and let live, that’s my approach to these matters. The majority of Maltese are not Catholic. They say they are, and they probably think they are, but that’s where it ends. Catholicism is a religion, which you have to espouse in every way, and not a badge of identity. Any moment now and you’ll be telling me that Silvio Berlusconi is a Catholic.]

Reminds me of Gonzi and the divorce issue.

I agree with you. Perfectly said.

He heads a State and a Religion/Church.

I firmly believe that anyone is justified in kissing his ring as head of a Church of 1.5 billion people rather than as head of a State of 800.

This is simply my very strongly-held personal opinion.

After all the Duke of Norfolk, representing George VI, did kiss the ring of Pius XII at his coronation in 1939.

The Fitzalan-Howards are the premier earls (and also earl marshals) of England and concurrently the leading Catholic family (and recusants) for seven centuries of that country.

[Daphne – That was in 1939, Anthony. Not exactly a great year for European democracy.]

He’s the Emperor.

However I certainly do not agree with you that a Catholic PM, President or whatever should not kiss the papal ring because that is a gesture of submission by one head of state/government to another.

It is a time-hallowed mark of respect by a Catholic individual to his Supreme Pontiff as head of his Church and certainly NOT as ruler of the Vatican State.

This is simply universally accepted protocol within the Catholic world.

Joe Biden was the most recent and notable exception I know of.

One swallow does not a summer make, though.

[Daphne – Heads of government should not follow Catholic protocol, but state protocol. They should also be aware at all times that they represent not themselves but the people of their country, and their country itself. Joe Biden and Nicolas Sarkozy are right. Ours are wrong. There is a strong, distinct correlation between the nature and strength of a country’s democracy (and democratic thinking) and the propensity of its leaders, when Catholic, to kiss the Pope’s ring. I have no doubt at all, even without looking for video footage, that Silvio Berlusconi – for example – will have kissed that ring.]

Joseph Muscat is not a Catholic monarch. He suffers from enough delusions of grandeur already. Please do not give him any more.

Joseph Muscat kissed that ring out of convenience, because it suits his own personal agenda. The only God he adores is himself.

Needless to say, this was just a holiday for the Muscats and a bunch of friends and an opportunity to add some more snaps to the family album. Does Muscat carry his kids and wife with him to every political meeting he attends?

Muscat is simply vile, imbecilic, low, opportunist and a damn liar.