Yearly Archives: 2025

From locked doors to living hope: writing a renewed narrative – Bishop Galea-Curmi

Mass on the 2nd Sunday of Easter with the participation of MED25 - Bel Espoir Project participants

27/04/2025   St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi

Dear young friends from different countries of the Mediterranean,
Dear pilgrims of Le Bel Espoir,

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Today, through the Gospel of John, we enter a moment of deep significance: the disciples are gathered behind locked doors, afraid, uncertain, disoriented after the events of the Passion. In many ways, this image mirrors the experience of our region… Read more »

Living Pope Francis’s vision: Young Mediterraneans meet in Malta for MED25 – Bel Espoir Project

27/04/2025

Photo: Archdiocese of Malta

Young participants from various Mediterranean countries arrived in Malta on Saturday to begin their three-day journey as part of the MED25 – Bel Espoir Project to delve into different Mediterranean identities, one of them is Malta, while engaging with local communities across the island. This initiative is inspired by Pope Francis’s call for the Mediterranean to become a space of encounter and peace… Read more »

Trump and Zelensky discuss peace plans in St Peter’s Basilica

27/04/2025

From the very beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Pope Francis continuously offered to mediate to help bring about peace. He appealed for an end to the war at almost every public appearance, and his prayers for “martyred Ukraine” became a familiar refrain.

The late Pope’s calls were, above all, calls for dialogue – for key players to come together and find a way to put an end to the conflict… Read more »

Cardinal Re at Requiem Mass: Pope Francis, a shepherd of the people

27/04/2025

Over two hundred and fifty thousand people from all walks of life poured into St. Peter’s Square and the adjacent areas on Saturday morning to bid their final farewell to Pope Francis at his Requiem Mass. Over 150,00 others lined the streets of Rome as his coffin was taken in procession to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

The Solemn and moving celebration was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re joined by some 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, and consecrated religious… Read more »

The Sunday Gospel: 27th April

27/04/2025

Divine Mercy Sunday
Readings of the day

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Psalm: 117(118):2-4,13-15,22-24
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6

Gospel: John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side… Read more »

The Gospel of the day: 26th April

26/04/2025

Saturday of Easter week
Readings of the day

First Reading: Acts 4:13-21
Psalm: 117 (118):1,14-15,16ab-18,19-21

Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe… Read more »

Live: The Solemn Requiem Mass for Pope Francis

25/04/2025

The funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, which will take place today, Saturday, 26 April 2025, in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

The Mass will begin at 10am and will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is 91 years old and will not participate in the upcoming conclave.

Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and other priests from around the world have been invited to concelebrate the Eucharist during this solemn occasion… Read more »

Pope’s tomb made of marble from the land of his Italian grandparents

25/04/2025

Pope Francis’ tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major has been made with materials from the Italian region of Liguria. It is a simple tomb bearing only the inscription “Franciscus” and a reproduction of the late Pope’s pectoral cross.

Tomb of Pope Francis in the Basilica of St Mary Major

The tomb is located near the Altar of St Francis, in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Salus Populi Romani Chapel) and the Sforza Chapel… Read more »

Archbishop Scicluna to attend funeral of Pope Francis

25/04/2025

Pope Francis and Archbishop Charles Scicluna during the Papal Visit in Malta in 2022.
Photo: Papal Visit – Ian Noel Pace

Archbishop Charles Scicluna leaves Malta today to attend the funeral Mass of His Holiness Pope Francis, which will be held tomorrow, 26th April 2025, at 10am in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Archbishop Scicluna will represent the Maltese Episcopal Conference and will join patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests from around the world in concelebrating the Eucharist… Read more »