Photo: Ian Noel Pace
More than €1.3 million was distributed in donations by the Archdiocese of Malta during the Jubilee Year of Hope, as the Church increased support for vulnerable people despite registering an overall financial shortfall of around €1 million in 2025.
Michael Pace Ross, Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta, said this direct financial assistance formed part of a much wider commitment by the Church.
“More was spent on initiatives and activities furthering the Church’s mission and supporting people in need, including children and adolescents requiring care and protection, survivors of domestic violence and other forms of abuse, migrants, families experiencing poverty and people affected by substance abuse,” Mr Pace Ross said.
In January 2025, Archbishop Charles Scicluna officially inaugurated St Michael Hospice, a Church property donated to Hospice Malta for the provision of specialised palliative care.
Preliminary works are also under way at the Ta’ Saura Empowerment Hub, another property donated by the Church to create Malta’s first fully integrated centre for children and young people with different abilities.
Public Social Partnership agreements were renewed with the Migrants’ Commission, Caritas Malta and Fondazzjoni Sebħ.
Fondazzjoni Sebħ, which provides a safe and caring environment for children from challenging family circumstances as well as support for families and survivors of violence, received €2.7 million in Government service payments under its PSP agreement.
This assisted in covering expenses for all 42 children living in its residential homes and 12 family units at Il-Milja. Fondazzjoni Sebħ also took over Fatima House, now ‘The Manor’, from the Ursuline Sisters – the first transitional residence for young people leaving care. The Archdiocese provided a further €65,000 subsidy from its Central Fund.
The Foundation for Theological Studies received €151,000 to assist priests pursuing studies locally and abroad, while the Seminary’s Vocations Centre received €58,000 for vocational pastoral care, outreach and resources. Overall, subsidies and capital loans from the Central Fund increased to €855,000, from €691,000 in 2024, while an inheritance of €406,000 was earmarked for charity.
The financial results of Dar tal-Providenza contributed to the Archdiocese’s overall deficit. Donations, inheritances and fundraising at the organisation fell by €650,000, or 14%, to €3.99 million, mainly because of lower inheritances and fundraising. Residents’ contributions and Government grants, however, increased by €100,000 to €2.5 million.
Four semi-independent Dar tal-Providenza homes are operating in Qawra, Siġġiewi, Birkirkara and Żurrieq, with further work under way to upgrade standards and increase community-based accommodation.
Towards the end of 2025, the Archdiocese entered into an agreement with CPHCL, majority shareholder of the Corinthia Group, to transform Casa Leone XIII in St Julian’s into a state-of-the-art home for older people. CPHCL will invest in the property and take an active role in its development, management and operation for the next 50 years.
Meanwhile, parishes recorded an operating surplus of €1.04 million, compared to €336,000 in 2024. Higher visitor numbers at the Mdina Cathedral Museum, Mosta Basilica and the Mysterium Fidei experience at St Catherine’s Monastery in Valletta also contributed to the Archdiocese’s income.
The Archdiocese recorded a 5.7% return on its investments in 2025, compared with 6.1% the previous year, despite market volatility caused by international trade tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty.
APS Bank also continued to make an important contribution to the Archdiocese’s finances. The Archdiocese received a gross dividend of €7 million from the Bank in 2025, while the dividend for 2026 is expected to rise to €7.5 million following APS Bank’s strong financial performance.
Salary costs for the Archdiocese, which encompasses more than 100 entities and employs 1,376 people, accounted for 64% of total expenditure, while its tax charge amounted to €3.6 million. Church school teachers also benefited from improved remuneration packages, funded by Government, following a new collective agreement.
Mr Pace Ross said: “Behind these figures are people being given care, protection and practical support. We have a responsibility to manage the Church’s resources carefully, but also to put them to work in the service of others.”
On behalf of the Bishops of Malta, Mr Pace Ross thanked employees, volunteers, companies and organisations helping through CSR initiatives, and the public for their support, and appealed for donations at church.mt/donate.