L-ewwel att ta’ Papa ġdid, dritt wara li jaċċetta l-elezzjoni kanonika bħala Suċċessur ta’ Pietru u qabel iwettaq obbligi oħra, hu l-għażla ta’ ismu. Dan l-isem jitħabbar mill-Kardinal Protodjaknu wara l-famużi kelmiet “Habemus Papam”, segwiti mill-isem tal-magħmudija tal-Papa l-ġdid bil-Latin.

It-tradizzjoni antika li jinbidel l-isem tal-magħmudija

Skont tradizzjoni antika ħafna, dan l-isem irid ikun differenti minn dak tal-magħmudija – għażla li ssegwi l-preċedent tal-ewwel Papa, San Pietru, li l-isem tat-twelid tiegħu kien Xmun… Read more »

Archbishop Charles Scicluna is urging the people of Malta and Gozo to actively participate in the Government’s public consultation on assisted voluntary euthanasia. He emphasised that the people should cleary state that they not in favour of “assistance” that facilitates ending one’s life.

Instead, the Archbishop advocates for more investment in essential support services such as palliative care, a true expression of compassion that addresses suffering in all its forms: physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual… Read more »

Black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 11:50 on Thursday afternoon, signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave – and the third ballot overall – was inconclusive. 

As the cardinals break for lunch, the people in the square continue to look up at the chimney in anticipation. Voting is expected to resume at around 16:00. 

Around 15,000 people had gathered in St Peter’s Square to await the announcement… Read more »

Black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 on Wednesday evening, signalling that a first ballot has been held at the conclave and has concluded without the election of a Pope.

Around 45,000 people had gathered in St Peter’s Square to await the announcement, which had been expected some time after 7pm. In the end, they had to wait until 9… Read more »

On Wednesday morning, 7 May, in Saint Peter’s Basilica the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff took place with the Cardinals and over five thousand faithful in attendance. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the celebration, saying that in a special way “we feel united with the entire People of God in their sense of faith, love for the Pope and confident expectation.” 

Recalling the reading in the Acts of the Apostles how after Christ’s ascension into heaven all were united and persevering in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Cardinal said in his homily that all gathered here are praying together as well just a few hours before the start of the Conclave, “under the gaze of Our Lady beside the altar, in this Basilica which rises above the tomb of the Apostle Peter.”

United in faith and prayer

Cardinal Re explained that at this celebration we invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, asking for “his light and strength so that the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult, complex, and troubled turning point in history.”

Love that knows no limits

As proclaimed in the Gospel reading during the celebration, Cardinal Re recalled how Jesus calls on everyone to love one another as He has loved them, even to the point of laying down one’s life, a message of boundless love that the Lord calls a “new” commandment… Read more »