News

Pope: hospitality focus

24/12/2012

Pope Benedict XVI, addressing pilgrims and tourists gathered in St Peter’s Square beneath the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on the fourth Sunday of Advent, spoke of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin, Elisabeth – the episode narrated during the Gospel reading for the day. “The episode,” said Pope Benedict, “does not represent a mere gesture of courtesy, but dramatises with great simplicity the encounter of the Old Testament with the New Testament.”

The Holy Father explained that the elderly and yet miraculously fertile Elisabeth represents Israel awaiting the Messiah… Read more »

Papal visit and Christmas pardon for Paolo Gabriele

22/12/2012

Pope with Gabriele in prison

Holy See Press Office director, Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., informed journalists: “The Holy Father Benedict XVI visited Paolo Gabriele in prison in order to confirm his forgiveness and to inform him personally of his acceptance of Mr Gabriele’s request for pardon, thereby remitting the sentence passed against the latter. This constitutes a paternal gesture towards a person with whom the Pope shared a relationship of daily familiarity for many years… Read more »

Religious Celebrations by Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Charles J. Scicluna

22/12/2012

Il-funzjonijiet reliġjużi li se jmexxu l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona O.P. u l-Isqof Charles J. Scicluna fl-okkażjoni tal-Milied jibdew fil-Lejl tal-Milied.

It-Tnejn 24 ta’ Diċembru, l-Arċisqof Cremona jiċċelebra Quddiesa Stazzjonali Konċelebrata fil-Katidral, l-Imdina. Il-funzjoni tibda fil-11.00 p.m. b’kant ta’ għanjiet tal-Milied u l-prietka tat-tifel. Fil-11.30 a.m. tibda translazzjoni ta’ Ġesù Bambin li tkompli biċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-quddiesa.

F’ Jum il-Milied, it-Tlieta 25 ta’ Diċembru, l-Arċisqof imexxi Quddiesa Stazzjonali Konċelebrata fil-KonKatidral ta’ San Ġwann, il-Belt Valletta, fid-9.30 a.m… Read more »

The Bishops exchange Christmas greetings with Curia employees

21/12/2012

Nhar il-Ġimgħa 21 ta’ Diċembru 2012, l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona O.P., l-Isqof Awżiljarju Charles J. Scicluna u l-Isqof Emeritus Ġużeppi Mercieca awguraw Milied ħieni lil impjegati tal-Kurja, tal-Caritas u tat-Tribunal Ekklezjastiku, filwaqt li apprezzaw il-ħidma fejjieda li dawn iwettqu tul is-sena kollha.

Ritratti: Uffiċċju Komunikazzjoni Read more »

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Exchanging Christmas greetings with the Bishops

20/12/2012

On the occasion of Christmas and the start of the New Year, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. the Auxiliary Bishop Charles J. Scicluna and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca will receive members of the general public who wish to convey their good wishes for the season, on Sunday 30th December between 9.30am and noon.

This year too, the exchange of greetings will take place at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana, which is easily accessible for persons with disability… Read more »

Art Exhibition in Aid of Id-Dar Tal-Providenza

19/12/2012

On Tuesday 18 December 2012, Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Charles Scicluna inaugurated an art exhibition at the Mdina Cathedral Museum. Over seventy local and foreign artists have donated one or more pieces of art to be auctioned off on New Year’s Day during the Festa ta’ Generozita’ organized by RTK 4 Charity.

The Exhibition will be open between the 19 and 27 December and is open Monday to Friday (excluding Christmas Day) between 9.30am and 4.30pm and on Saturday between 9.30am and 3.30pm… Read more »

Papal Twitter Account Surpasses 2 Million Followers in Two Weeks

19/12/2012

Pope's account on Twitter

Pope Benedict XVI’s Twitter account, @Pontifex, has surpassed two million followers since the account was opened two weeks ago. The first Papal tweets were sent out in eight languages moments after his General Audience last Wednesday.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said that the Holy Father wanted to be present in the latest platforms of communication to share with them “words of truth.”

Despite the 140 character limit for tweets, Archbishop Celli reiterated the statement he made at the press conference announcing the new account, stressing that it “is not so much the number of characters available but the depth of the words he uses.”

The Archbishop told Vatican Radio that we could all stand to re-learn how to communicate using words “that always have a profound significance for others.” Archbishop Celli also noted that with the more than 140 million people actively on Twitter, 40% of them between the ages of 18-34, the social micro-blogging site would give the Holy Father an opportunity to dialogue with them… Read more »

Auxiliary Bishop visits Maria Assunta Secondary School

19/12/2012

On Monday 17th December 2012, Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Charles J. Scicluna celebrated the Christmas Mass at San Ġorġ Preca College, Maria Assumpta Girls Secondary school in Ħamrun.

This was the Bishop’s first pastoral visit in a school.

The bishop was given a cake from the Home Economics class student and a hand-crafted memento by the Art and Lace class students… Read more »

Pope receives Palestinian President

18/12/2012

Pope with Palestinian President

In the Vatican Apostolic Palace Pope Benedict XVI received in audience Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Abbas subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
In a press release, the Holy See’s Press Office said “the cordial discussions made reference to the recent Resolution approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations by which Palestine was recognised as a Non-member Observer State of the aforementioned Organisation… Read more »