News

Prayers for peace, justice and reconciliation

Statement by the Bishops of Malta and Gozo

13/10/2023

We, the Bishops of Malta and Gozo, are joining the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who, on behalf of the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, appealed for prayers for all those who are suffering in the sea of violence, destruction, and hatred in the Holy Land, a turmoil that has already claimed many victims.

In response to this plea, the Patriarch of Jerusalem has designated Tuesday, 17th October 2023, as a day set aside for prayer and fasting for peace, justice, and reconciliation… Read more »

Forgiveness takes away nothing but adds – Pope at General Audience

12/10/2023   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Catechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 22. Saint Josephine Bakhita: witness of the transforming power of Christ’s forgiveness 

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In our path of catechesis on apostolic zeal – we are reflecting on apostolic zeal – today we will let ourselves be inspired by the witness of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese saint… Read more »

Forming Christians for today’s world

Courses offered by the pastoral formation institute

11/10/2023

Award in Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces is one of the courses offered by the Pastoral Formation Institute

During academic year 2023-2024, the Pastoral Formation Institute will be offering over 30 courses. Courses will be offered in different modes, namely in-person, hybrid, and online.

The courses starting in the first semester in October 2023 are:

Pope appoints nun as No. 2 of Dicastery for Consecrated Life

10/10/2023

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Holy See Press Office announced on October 7, 2023.

The Italian nun, former superior general of the Missionary Sisters of the Consolata, replaces Archbishop José Rodriguez Carballo, ‘number 2’ of this dicastery since 2013. Since 2011, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz has been at the head of this structure, which employs around 40 civil servants… Read more »

Caritas Malta Hosts the Caritas Communications Forum and Caritas Fundraising Forum

10/10/2023

Caritas Malta is thrilled to announce the successful hosting of the Caritas CommunicationsForum and Fundraising Forum, a week-long event that brought together approximately 50 participants from various European countries. The forum, which commenced on the 3rd of October 2023 wasconcludedon Friday, October 6th, 2023, delved into a range of crucial topics, including Artificial Intelligence, social media strategies, and the art of storytelling. 

The event began with a warm welcome address by the Director of Caritas Malta, Mr… Read more »

Churches call for de-escalation in Holy Land after Hamas attack

10/10/2023

Following the large-scale attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants, the Patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem call for the immediate cessation of all violence and military activities, reiterating that everything is lost with war.

Pope Francis’ impassioned appeal for peace in the Holy Land during the Angelus on Sunday is one of the several voices from Churches around the world calling for an immediate de-escalation of the violence unleashed on 7 October by an Hamas attack which prompted Israel to issue an official declaration of war (“Operation Swords of Iron”)… Read more »

Ruffini on Synod: Church pausing to profoundly listen to one other

06/10/2023

Paolo Ruffini (Photo Vatican News) Paolo Ruffini, President of the Commission for Information of the Synodal Assembly, holds a briefing for journalists to explain the methodology of the Working Groups (Circuli Minores), and foresees press conferences after each module with Synod participants.

The Synod’s 35 working groups, or ‘circuli minores,’ began their work on Thursday, explained Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, who is serving as President of the Commission for Information, whose members will be elected on 9 October… Read more »

Laudate Deum: the Pope’s cry for a response to the climate crisis

06/10/2023

Pope Francis has published an Apostolic Exhortation building on his 2015 encyclical. We’re not reacting enough, he says, we’re close to breaking point. He criticises climate change deniers, saying that the human origin of global warming is now beyond doubt. And he describes how care for our common home flows from the Christian faith.

“’Praise God’ is the title of this letter.  For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies.”

That’s how Pope Francis ends his new Apostolic Exhortation, published on the 4th October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi… Read more »

Pope at opening of Synod: Let us walk with the Holy Spirit

Pope Francis presides Holy Mass in St Peter’s Square

04/10/2023   St Peter's Square, the Vatican

Pope Francis invited the faithful to walk with the Holy Spirit, “in trust and with joy” as he presided over Mass in St Peter’s Square for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

The Solemn Mass for the Opening of the Synod of Bishops began with a modern version of the traditional Laudes Regiae hymn, invoking God’s protection and blessing on the Church, on Pope Francis and the Bishops and the flock entrusted to him, and on civil leaders and all women and men… Read more »

Bishops Paul Cremona and George Frendo celebrate 60 years of religious profession

04/10/2023

L-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona u l-Arċisqof Emeritu George Frendo, it-tnejn Dumnikani, iċċelebraw is-60 anniversarju mill-professjoni reliġjuża tagħhom.

Kien fl-1963 li Pawlu Cremona u George Frendo bdew il-mixja vokazzjonali tagħhom lejn is-saċerdozju bħala patrijiet Dumnikani.

Mons. Cremona, li huwa mwieled il-Belt, ipprofessa fl-Ordni ta’ San Duminku fl-età ta’ 17-il sena, filwaqt li Mons. Frendo, li huwa mwieled Ħal Qormi, ipprofessa fl-età ta’ 16-il sena… Read more »