Pope Francis’ visit to Malta
postponed
 |
| Cathedral of St Paul in Mdina, Malta |
The apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Malta has been moved
to a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
Pope Francis’ visit to Malta has been postponed.
The Pope’s apostolic journey to the Mediterranean island
nation was previously scheduled for 31 May.
The Director of the Holy See Press office, Matteo Bruni made
the announcement on 23 March.
“Due to the ongoing world situation, and in agreement with
authorities and the local Church, the previously announced apostolic visit to
Malta has been postponed to a later date to be determined,” reads the message.
The apostolic visit, scheduled to coincide with the feast of
Pentecost, was to be the first international journey of the Pope in 2020.
The visit - which has been postponed, not cancelled - will
eventually include a stop in Gozo, one of the twenty-one Islands that make up
the Maltese archipelago.
The theme of the apostolic journey is: “They showed us
unusual kindness.” It is meant to highlight the plight of the migrants who
traverse the Mediterranean toward Europe, and be a source of encouragement for
new evangelization in the island nation.
The theme references the hospitality shown to St. Paul by
the Maltese when a ship carrying him to Rome was shipwrecked there in 60
AD.
Two previous Popes have made apostolic visits to
Malta: Pope St. John Paul II visited Malta in 1990 and 2001. Pope
Benedict XVI also visited in 2010. Pope St. John Paul II beatified George
Preca, who became Malta’s first Saint in 2007.
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