News from the Church in Malta
Pope during New Year's message
In his address to thousands of pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the first Angelus prayer of 2013, Pope Benedict likened the new year to “a journey” and prayed that it may lead on a path to peace. “In this first Angelus of the new year, we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to bless us, like a mother blesses her children who must leave on a trip… Read more »
1. EACH NEW YEAR brings the expectation of a better world. In light of this, I ask God, the Father of humanity, to grant us concord and peace, so that the aspirations of all for a happy and prosperous life may be achieved.
Fifty years after the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, which helped to strengthen the Church’s mission in the world, it is heartening to realize that Christians, as the People of God in fellowship with him and sojourning among mankind, are committed within history to sharing humanity’s joys and hopes, grief and anguish, [1] as they proclaim the salvation of Christ and promote peace for all… Read more »
The following are highlights of the activities of Pope Benedict XVI and of the Holy See for the months of September to December 2012.
SEPTEMBER
4: Message from the Holy Father for the funeral of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop emeritus of Milan, Italy, who died on 31 August at the age of 85.
10: The Holy Father receives the second group of bishops from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, at the end of their five-yearly “ad limina” visit… Read more »
Nhar il-Ħadd 30 ta’ Diċembru 2012, fl-okkażjoni tal-festi ta’ żmien il-Milied u l-bidu tas-Sena l-Ġdida, l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona O.P., l-Isqof Awziljarju Charles J. Scicluna u l-Arċisqof Emeritus Ġuzeppi Mercieca, iltaqgħu mal-familji u kull min xtaq iżurhom għal bdil tal-awguri tal-istaġun. Akkumpanjaw l-isqfijiet kor tat-tfal li kantaw innijiet tal-Milied.
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Dr Arthur Galea Salomone is the new President of the Cana Movement. His appointment was announced by Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. during Cana’s annual Christmas gathering. Dr Galea Salomone is a lawyer by profession. He is married and has three children. He succeeds Dr Anna Maria Vella who for the past seven years has offered her invaluable services and expertise in the field of the family, to the Cana Movement… Read more »
St Stephen
“On St. Stephen’s Day, we are called to fix our gaze on the Son of God”, and like St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr of the Church “open up our lives to the light that directs us” on life’s path, said Benedict XVI in his Angelus reflections this Wednesday.
In Baptism and Confirmation, with the precious gift of faith nourished by the Sacraments of the Church, especially the Eucharist, Jesus Christ has bound us to Him and wants to continue in us, through the action of the Holy Spirit, his work of salvation that redeems, enhances, elevates and leads all to fulfilment… Read more »
Pope Benedict XVI
Concern, mixed with joy and hope, were expressed in the words of Pope Benedict XVI this Christmas, during Vigil Mass Christmas eve and again in the Urbi et orbi message, addressed Christmas Day from the central balcony of St. Peter’s basilica to 50 thousand people in St Peter’s Square . The Pope spoke of the Middle East and Africa and launched an appeal to the new leaders of China… Read more »
On Sunday 23rd December 2012, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. attended a Christmas party for children coming from Church Homes, at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Tal-Virtù, Rabat. The party was organised by RTK radio.
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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 »
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 »
