News

Leading airlines commit to humanitarian vaccine transport initiative

16/02/2021

A shipment of Covid-19 vaccines in the cargo hold of a plane  (ANSA)

At least ten international airlines signed up for UNICEF’s Humanitarian Airfreight initiative aimed at prioritizing the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical devices, and other supplies to lower-income countries.

Announcing this development in a statement issued on Tuesday, UNICEF said the humanitarian initiative will act as a “global logistics preparedness mechanism for other humanitarian and health crises over the long term.”

The UN Children’s Fund launched the initiative in February, in collaboration with leading airlines, to respond to the ongoing pandemic and to support vaccination campaigns in countries, regardless of their income level… Read more »

Pope Francis updates Vatican legal code

16/02/2021

Pope Francis’ motu proprio Recante modifiche in materia di giustizia (“Introducing modifications in the area of justice”), published on Tuesday, provides for reduction of sentences, the possibility of agreeing on a programme of community service and voluntary work, and suspension of trials in cases of legitimate impediment on the part of the defendant. The new regulations update the criminal justice system of Vatican state and remodels norms in order to respond to the needs of the times and establishes procedures for penalties aimed at the rehabilitation of offenders… Read more »

The Season of Lent 2021

15/02/2021

L-Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna waqt il-quddiesa tal-bidu tar-Randan 2020

Nhar l‑Erbgħa, 17 ta’ Frar 2021, il‑Knisja tagħti bidu għar‑Randan Imqaddes: 40 jum ta’ talb u penitenza bi tħejjija għaċ‑ċelebrazzjoni tal‑Passjoni, il‑Mewt u l‑Qawmien mill‑mewt ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu.

L‑Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna ser jiċċelebra l‑quddiesa ta’ Ras ir‑Randan fil‑Knisja tal‑Immakulata Kunċizzjoni (Sarria) fil‑Furjana, li tinkludi t‑tberik u t‑tqegħid tal‑irmied. Il‑quddiesa tibda fid‑9:30 a.m… Read more »

Pope on World Radio Day: ‘Carrying the word to most distant places’

14/02/2021

The United Nations proclaimed 13 February as World Radio Day in 2011, making this the 10th iteration of the annual event.

Saturday’s celebration comes one day after Vatican Radio marked the 90th anniversary of its inauguration by Pope Pius XI in 1931. The first commercially-viable radio system was invented by Guglielmo Marconi, who went on to set up the Pope’s Radio.

Pope Francis got in on the action by tweeting his support for this medium of communication… Read more »

Lent: A time for renewing faith, hope and love

Message by His Holiness for Lent 2021

12/02/2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Jesus revealed to his disciples the deepest meaning of his mission when he told them of his passion, death and resurrection, in fulfilment of the Father’s will. He then called the disciples to share in this mission for the salvation of the world.

In our Lenten journey towards Easter, let us remember the One who “humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8)… Read more »

New head for Marriage Office

12/02/2021

L‑Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna ħatar lil Mons. Alfred Vella bħala l‑Kap tal‑Uffiċċju tar‑Reġistrazzjoni taż‑Żwiġijiet tal‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta. Huwa ħa post Dun Mario Tong li ssostitwixxa lil Mons. Tarcisio Delicata li kien ilu jservi f’din il‑kariga għal sbatax‑il sena.

Mons. Alfred Vella ġie ordnat saċerdot fl‑1984 u serva f’diversi parroċċi fosthom fil‑parroċċa ta’ San Pawl fir‑Rabat, Ħal Luqa, iż‑Żejtun u Ħ’Attard. Għal sbatax‑il sena kien id‑Direttur tal‑Kummissjoni Emigranti, illum Kummissjoni Migranti… Read more »

Pope at Audience: We meet God in prayer, in the ‘today’ that we live

11/02/2021

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In the preceding catechesis we saw how Christian prayer is “anchored” in the Liturgy. Today, we will shed light on how the Liturgy always enters daily life: on the streets, in offices, on public transportation… And there it continues the dialogue with God: the person who prays is like someone in love who always bears the beloved in his or her heart wherever they go… Read more »

Pilgrimages and processions during the pandemic

Lent and Holy Week 2021

08/02/2021

B’responsabbiltà lejn is‑saħħa tal‑poplu Malti fiż‑żmien ta’ pandemija, il‑Knisja f’Malta u Għawdex mhix ser torganizza pellegrinaġġi, purċissjonijiet u manifestazzjonijiet matul ir‑Randan u l‑Ġimgħa Mqaddsa ta’ din is‑sena.  

Il‑Knisja tħeġġeġ lill‑poplu Nisrani biex matul ir‑Randan jisma’ l‑Kelma ta’ Alla, jinġabar fit‑talb u jagħmel karità. Il‑Knisja timpenja ruħha biex permezz tad‑diversi entitajiet tagħha tipprovdi opportunitajiet biex il‑poplu Nisrani jkun jista’ jagħmel dan.

Il‑Knisja se tibqa’ tevalwa s‑sitwazzjoni tas‑saħħa pubblika u aktar ’il quddiem toħroġ direttivi dwar kif għandha tiġi ċċelebrata l‑liturġija tat‑Tridu tal‑Għid… Read more »

Pope Francis: Caring for the sick is not optional

07/02/2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Buongiorno!

Once again in the Square! Today’s Gospel passage (cf. Mk 1:29-39) presents the healing, by Jesus, of Peter’s mother-in-law and then of many other sick and suffering people who gather round him. The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is the first physical healing recounted by Mark: the woman is in bed with a fever; Jesus’ attitude and gesture toward her are emblematic: “he came and took her by the hand” (v… Read more »