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In the small Mediterranean island nation of Malta the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism.
A 2021 survey conducted by the University of Malta showed that 88% of respondents identified as Catholic while 11% said they had no religious belief at all.[1]
The apostle Paul's time in Malta is described in the Book of Acts (Acts 27:39–42; Acts 28:1–11). Tradition holds that the church was founded by its patrons Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Publius, who was its first bishop.[2] The Islands of St. Paul (or St. Paul's Islets), in effect only one island during low tide, are traditionally believed to be the site where Saint Paul was shipwrecked in the year 60 AD, on his way to trial and eventual martyrdom in Rome.
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Main article: Archdiocese of Malta |
According to tradition, Publius, the Roman Governor of Malta at the time of Saint Paul's shipwreck, became the first Bishop of Malta following his conversion to Christianity. After ruling the Maltese Church for 31 years, Publius was transferred to the See of Athens in 90 AD, where he was martyred in 125 AD. There is scant information about the continuity of Christianity in Malta in subsequent years, although tradition has it that there was a continuous line of bishops from the days of St. Paul to the time of Emperor Constantine. The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon record that in 451 AD, a certain Acacius was Bishop of Malta (Melitenus Episcopus). It is also known that in 501 AD, a certain Constantinus, Episcopus Melitenensis, was present at the Fifth General Council. In 588 Tucillus, Miletinae civitatis episcopus, was deposed by Pope Gregory I, and his successor Trajan elected by the clergy and people of Malta in 599 AD. The last recorded Bishop of Malta before the Arab invasion of the Islands was a Greek by the name of Manas, who was subsequently incarcerated at Palermo, Sicily.[3]
While the Maltese Islands were under the dominion of the Knights of Malta, from the 15th century through to the late 18th century, the Grand Master had the status of a prince of the Catholic Church, and enjoyed a special relationship with the Pope, which occasionally led to a considerable amount of friction with the local Bishops. Occasional attempts to implant Quakerism and other forms of Protestantism in the 17th century were unsuccessful.[4]
Over the years, the power of the Knights declined; their reign ended when Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet arrived in 1798, en route to his expedition of Egypt. As a ruse, Napoleon asked for safe harbor to resupply his ships, and then turned his guns against his hosts once safely inside Valletta. Grand Master Hompesch capitulated, and Napoleon stayed in Malta for a few days during which he systematically looted the moveable assets of the Order and established an administration controlled by his nominees. He then sailed for Egypt leaving a substantial garrison in Malta. Since the Order had also been growing unpopular with the local Maltese, the latter initially viewed the French with optimism. This illusion did not last long. Within months the French were closing convents and seizing church treasures. The Maltese people rebelled, and the French garrison of General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois retreated into Valletta. After several failed attempts by the locals to retake Valletta, they asked the British for assistance. Rear Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson decided on a total blockade, and in 1800 the French garrison surrendered.
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Main article: Diocese of Gozo |
Historically part of the Diocese of Malta, Gozitans brought forward several petitions for the creation of an independent diocese, including in 1798, during the French occupation, and again in 1836. A third petition, brought directly to Pope Pius IX in 1855, met with success. Instrumental in this effort were a young priest named Don Pietro Pace, who would several years later serve as Bishop of Gozo, and Sir Adriano Dingli, Crown Advocate. The British Colonial Office signalled its approval in October 1860.[5]
In 1863, Archpriest Michele Francesco Buttigieg was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Malta with instructions to reside in Gozo. One year later, on September 16, 1864, the Pope issued a Bull entitled "Singulari Amore" (With remarkable Love), which decreed that the islands of Gozo and Comino were separated from the Diocese of Malta. On September 22, 1864, Bishop Buttigieg was elected the first bishop of Gozo, with the "Matrice" in Victoria, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Maltese: "Marija Assunta"), serving as his Cathedral.[5]
In 1814, Malta became British in accordance with the Treaty of Paris. British rule lasted 150 years until 1964 when Malta gained independence. British rule brought the first sizeable population of members of the Anglican Church and Protestant denominations in the form of civil servants and retirees.
St. Paul is venerated as the patron saint of Malta. A number of parishes throughout Malta and Gozo are dedicated to him, including: the Cathedral Church at Mdina, the Collegiates of Rabat and Valletta, and the parishes of Ħal-Safi and Munxar.
Saint Publius is the first Maltese Saint, a patron saint of Malta and Floriana, and also the first Bishop of the Maltese Islands. The Floriana Parish Church is dedicated to St. Publius. There is a huge devotion across Malta towards this Saint as he was also Maltese.
Saint Agatha, is also a patron Saint of Malta as during the persecution in Sicily she came to Malta and kept on teaching the Maltese the Christian faith.
Out of approximately 60 parishes in Malta and Gozo, 11 are dedicated to the Assumption. These include the Cathedral Church of Gozo, the parishes of Gudja, Ħal-Għaxaq, l-Imqabba, Qrendi, Mosta, Dingli, Attard, Mġarr, Birkirkara and Żebbuġ (Gozo). Many other churches have a treasured statue representing the mystery of the Assumption. As titular statues, they are the most treasured sacred artifacts of their respective communities. All statues in churches are kept with great care and devotion, however the devotion to statues representing patrons of villages is far greater than devotion to other representations.
Noteworthy details linked to the feast of the Assumption are the world-famous Mosta Rotunda Build a Free Website (known as the Mosta Dome), the magnificent Gozo Cathedral found in the old Citadel Knisja Katidrali ta' Għawdex, and the exceptional annual fireworks display held on 14 August at Imqabba, organized by the St Mary Fireworks Factory of Imqabba, winners of the First Malta International Fireworks Festival (2006). This fireworks display is renowned as the best pyro-musical show on the island and thousands cram the village streets annually in order to watch it.Soċjetà Santa Marija u Banda Re Ġorġ V, Mqabba
The Constitution of Malta provides for freedom of religion but establishes Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Freedom House and the World Factbook report that 98 per cent of the Maltese are Roman Catholic, making the nation one of the most Catholic countries in the world.[6][7] The rate of regular mass attendance was estimated at 36.1% in 2017, down from 52.6% (51% for Malta Island, 72.7% for Gozo) in 2005. In 1995 the rate stood at 63.4%.[8] There are two territorial jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo.
In public schools religious instruction in Roman Catholicism is part of the curriculum but students may opt to decline participation in religious lessons. Subsidies are granted to private Catholic schools.
Pope John Paul II made a total of three pastoral visits to Malta – twice in 1990 and once in 2001, during which he beatified three Maltese.[9]
Religious toleration is the norm, with the non-Roman Catholics mainly consisting of small communities of Muslims and Jews, in addition to Anglican and Protestant communities consisting mostly of British retirees. There is one Muslim religious school in the country, and the government approved plans for a 500-grave Muslim cemetery[citation needed].
The percentage of people that attend Mass in every locality of Malta in 2005:
| Locality | % of attenders |
|---|---|
| Mdina - St. Paul | 88% |
| Kerċem - St. Gregory and Our Lady of Health | 86% |
| San Lawrenz - St. Lawrence | 85% |
| Fontana - Sacred Heart of Jesus | 83% |
| Lija - Transfiguration of Jesus | 78% |
| Victoria, Gozo - St. Mary and St. George | 77% |
| Xewkija - St. John the Baptist | 75% |
| Xagħra - Nativity of Our Lady | 74% |
| Għarb - Visitation of Our Lady | 75% |
| Għajnsielem - Our Lady of Loreto | 73% |
| Qala - St. Joseph | 72% |
| Mġarr - St. Mary | 72% |
| Sannat - St. Margharite | 70% |
| Għargħur- St. Bartholomew | 67% |
| Għasri - Corpus Christi | 66% |
| Nadur - St. Peter and St. Paul | 66% |
| Balzan - The Annunciation | 66% |
| Munxar - St. Paul | 64% |
| Gudja - The Assumption of Our Lady | 60% |
| Mosta - The Assumption of Our Lady | 60% |
| Iklin - Holy Family | 60% |
| Siġġiewi - St. Nicholas | 58% |
| Rabat - St. Paul | 58% |
| Dingli - The Assumption of Our Lady | 57% |
| Attard - The Assumption of Our Lady | 57% |
| Tarxien - The Annunciation | 55% |
| Żebbuġ, Malta - St. Philip of Aggira | 54% |
| Qormi - Parish of St. George and Parish of St. Sebastian | 54% |
| Naxxar - Our Lady of Victory | 54% |
| Santa Luċija - St. Pius X | 54% |
| Ħamrun - Parish of St. Cajten and Parish of the Immaculate Conception | 54% |
| Mellieħa - Our Lady of Victory | 53% |
| Qrendi - The Assumption of Our Lady | 53% |
| Żabbar - Our Lady of Graces | 53% |
| Paola - Parish of Christ the King and Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes | 52% |
| Marsaxlokk Our Lady of Pompeii | 52% |
| Floriana - St. Publius | 52% |
| Mqabba - The Assumption of Our Lady | 52% |
| Żebbuġ, Gozo - The Assumption of Our Lady | 52% |
| Żurrieq - St. Catherine of Alexandria | 51% |
| Marsa - Parish of the Holy Trinity and Parish of Maria Regina | 51% |
| Għaxaq - The Assumption of Our Lady | 51% |
| Pembroke | 51% |
| Kalkara - St. Joseph | 51% |
| Żejtun - St. Catherine of Alexandria | 50% |
| Safi - St. Paul | 49% |
| Fgura - Our Lady of Monte Carmel | 47% |
| Valletta - Parish of St. Paul's Shipwreck, Parish of Our Lady of Porto Salvo, and Parish of St. Augustine | 47% |
| Kirkop - St. Leonard | 45% |
| Birgu - St. Lawrence | 45% |
| Msida - St. Joseph | 45% |
| Birżebbuġa - St. Peter in Chains | 43% |
| San Ġwann - Our Lady of Lourdes | 43% |
| Mtarfa - St. Lucy | 42% |
| Gżira - Our Lady of Monte Carmel | 41% |
| Swieqi - The Immaculate Conception | 41% |
| Marsaskala - St. Anne | 40% |
| Bormla - The Immaculate Conception | 39% |
| Luqa - St. Andrew | 39% |
| Pietà - Our Lady of Fatima | 38% |
| Isla - Our Lady of Victory | 37% |
| San Pawl il-Baħar - Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows, Parish of Sacred Heart of Mary, and Parish of St. Frances of Assisi | 36% |
Other totals of people attending Mass, because these localities are not in percentage:
| Locality | total of attenders |
|---|---|
| Balluta Bay - Our Lady of Monte Carmel | 1,284 |
| Birkirkara - Parish of St. Helen, Parish of Our Lady of Monte Carmel, Parish of St. Mary and Parish of St. Joseph the Worker | 9,851 |
| San Ġiljan - St. Julian | 3,267 |
| Santa Venera - St. Venera | 2,508 |
| Sliema - Parish of Stella Maris, Parish of Sacro Cour, Parish of St. Gregory the Great, and Parish of Jesus of Nazzareth | 5,585 |
Additionally, between a quarter and a fifth of Mass attendees are active members of a Church Movement, group or initiatives such as the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, the Neocatechumenal Way, the Legion of Mary, Opus Dei, Youth Fellowship or other Church groups within the parish. Malta also has the highest number of members of the Neocatechumenal Way per population in the world.
Malta introduced divorce after a referendum on the 28 May 2011.[10] In an SMS poll, Malta chose the Maltese cross to be the image on the Maltese Euro and rejected one of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, which had garnered a strong majority in a previous poll, after attracting opposition even from the local Bishops who did not see it fit to place Jesus' face on a coin.[11]