Ritratti: Ian Noel Pace – Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta

Tista’ taqra bil-
Malti.

The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has begun his official visit to Malta after landing at the country’s airport on Saturday morning.

On his arrival to Malta, Cardinal Parolin was welcomed by Auxiliary Bishop of Malta Joseph Galea-Curmi and the Apostolic Nuncio to Malta and Libya, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai. He is accompanied by Mgr Pavol Talapka, desk officer of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.

The 71-year-old Italian cardinal had entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service at the age of 31 in 1986, six years after he was ordained as a priest.

He was appointed apostolic nuncio to Venezuela – and accordingly made a titular archbishop – by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, before Pope Francis appointed him Secretary of State in 2013. As one of the senior offices of the Roman Catholic Church, the secretary of state is required to be a cardinal: his elevation to the cardinalate took place in 2014.

The Secretariat of State is responsible for the political and diplomatic functions of the Holy See, and is considered the most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. While the secretary of state’s term ends when the pope who appointed him dies or leaves office, Cardinal Parolin has been provisionally confirmed by Pope Leo XIV.

Cardinal Parolin’s visit to Malta will formally conclude a year of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malta and the Holy See.

His agenda includes meetings with President Myriam Spiteri Debono as well as the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

He will also deliver the keynote address in a commemorative celebration on Saturday evening at the Archbishop’s Curia, an event which will also feature the launch of two publications focused on the history of diplomatic relations between the two states.

On Sunday morning, at 9.30am, Cardinal Parolin will be celebrating a pontifical mass in English at the Co-Cathedral of St John, joined by the Bishops of Malta and Gozo, Archbishop Hon and Malta’s bishops emeriti. The public is invited to attend.