Pope Benedict XVI might visit Malta next April to mark the 1950th anniversary since St Paul’s shipwreck which is said to have occurred in 60AD, the Archbishop’s Curia has announced. The person responsible for Pontifical Visits, Dr Alberto Gasbarri will be in Malta in October to explore this chance, following an invitation by Bishops of Malta and the President George Abela.
The Bishops urged the faithful to pray for Malta to be blessed by a visit by the Pope.
This would be the third Pontifical Visit in the Maltese Islands. The first 2 were by PopeJohn Paul II in 1990 and 2001.
Meanwhile in a press statement issued, the government welcomed this news saying that it will be working closely with the ecclesiastical authorities in the preparations for Dr Gasbarri’s visit next month.
Pope Benedict XVI has been invited by the Bishops of Malta and the President of the Republic to visit Malta on the occasion of the 1950th anniversary of St. Paul’s shipwreck, which according to tradition occurred in 60 A.D. Large celebrations were held in Malta in 1960 to commemorate this centenary.
Last year, Pope Benedict XVI declared a year dedicated to Saint Paul, known as the Pauline Year.
In Malta, the diocese of both Malta and Gozo organised various initiatives.
Thus at the end the Pauline Year, Pope Benedict XVI sent his delegate to Malta, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, to preside over the Eucharistic celebration held outside St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
St. Paul’s shipwreck in Malta is of utmost importance since it is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 28, 1-2: “Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was called Malta. The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness.”
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: DI-VE
Last year, Pope Benedict XVI declared a year dedicated to Saint Paul, known as the Pauline Year.
In Malta, the diocese of both Malta and Gozo organised various initiatives.
Thus at the end the Pauline Year, Pope Benedict XVI sent his delegate to Malta, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, to preside over the Eucharistic celebration held outside St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
St. Paul’s shipwreck in Malta is of utmost importance since it is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 28, 1-2: “Once we had come safely through, we discovered that the island was called Malta. The inhabitants treated us with unusual kindness.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: DI-VE