VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The President of Malta George Vella in an official declaration expressed his hope that the apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Malta “will bring both material and spiritual joy, so that unity and peace may continue to flourish” among the people of Malta.

While describing the Popès visit as “successful”, he thanked the public for attending in large numbers to all the events.

Pope Francis expressed his “deep gratitude” to the Maltese people in a telegram he sent to President George Vella at the end of his packed two-day journey to the island. “As I depart from Malta on my return to Rome, I express my deep gratitude to your excellency, the civil authorities and all the Maltese people,” the Holy Father wrote. “I pray that, through the intercession of Saint Paul the Apostle, your nation will be abundantly blessed by almighty God,” he added.

Speaking to journalists on the flight from Malta to Rome on Sunday evening, Pope Francis said he was impressed and “amazed”by the peoplès enthusiasm shown during his visit in Malta and Gozo, adding that the trip to Malta helped him understand the different realities of the country.

In his comments, Pope Francis also declared that returning asylum seekers intercepted at sea to Libya is “criminal.” While stressing on the need for greater European solidarity, the Pontiff said Europe should open its doors for migrants crossing the Mediterranean in the same way it is welcoming Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country.

Pope Francis also confirmed that a trip to Ukraine “remains on the table”. “Many suggested that I should go to Ukraine, and I will do whatever I can. The answer is not a ‘nò. If we can do it, we should.”

While in Malta, Pope Francis referred twice to the Russian invasion of Ukraine making a heartfelt appeal: “Let us pray for peace, thinking of the humanitarian tragedy of tormented Ukraine, still under the bombardments of this sacrilegious war.”

Many Ukrainian flags greeted the Pope outside the Peace Laboratory, most of them carried by members of the Ukrainian community in Malta.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – While the Maltese health authorties are registering an increase in the positive cases of coronavirus and as from today started relaxing more anti-Covid measures, the union representing the nurses declared that the main general hospital in Malta is in severe crises because it cannot cope anymore with the influx of new cases.

The number of cases increased over recent days, with the seven-day average of 640 new cases daily. Malta has 7,188 active cases of Covid-19 following the 530 new cases and 249 recoveries in the last 24 hours. The new cases were identified through 2,754 tests, representing a positivity rate of 19.2%. During the last 24 hours, three more deaths were registered, bringing the total number of deaths to 642 since the start of the pandemic.

“Seeing the desperate situation at Mater Dei Hospital, MUMN is urging the health ministry to reduce elective surgery and to start acting responsibly since hospital cannot keep functioning with such a high influx of Covid cases,” the union said. “Mater Dei Hospital is in severe crisis with Covid patients being spread in all wards,” the union added. MUMN said more than 150 Covid patients are spread in all wards and this pose “a high risk of cross infection among the whole hospital.”

The union referred to the nursing shortage caused by the huge amount of nurses in quarantine resulting in several wards having just two or three nurses instead of six nurses in several wards. Pointing out that three wards had to be dedicated fully for Covid patients, MUMN said it had to issue directives during the weekend to ensure that more nurses were added to the roster due to the severe burnout of nurses.

The union said that Mater Dei Hospital has six designated areas which are not meant to be wards but are being used as wards, including corridors, the library and the staff canteen making it harder for the nurses to give the medical care to the patients.

The union also warned Health Minister Chris Fearne that the handling of the situation should not be dictated by political motivations.

Meanwhile, after resisting calls to introduce self-testing, the Maltese government will allow such testing to take place as of this week. Minister Chris Fearne said that this will alleviate the influx of appointments being made for swab tests and is in line with government’s intention to encourage more self-regulation than strict measures. Despite being widely available in many EU countries, self-test kits had been banned in Malta, leading people to shop on the black market.

Minister Fearne added that vulnerable people will be offered a second booster shot and from 13 April children will no longer need to wear a mask in schools. He added that from 12 April, most of those flying to Malta from a red country will need a vaccine or recovery certificate which is not older than 180 days, or a negative PCR which must be done within 72 hours before travelling.

Referring to the situation at the Intensive Care Unit, Fearne said the number of people in intensive care remained low, with five patients currently in the ITU with Covid. This, he said, remains the lowest rate of people in ITU in all of the EU.

Fearne was interviewed over the phone by the state broadcaster after testing positive to Covid-19, days after the end of the election campaign which saw big crowds gather for political events with little regard to Covid protocols.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Pope Francis left Malta on Sunday evening for Rome, after meeting around 200 migrants at John XXIII Peace Laboratory in Hal Far to highlight the plight of people taking the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in hope for a better life. The meeting was requested by the Pope personally.

Fr Dionysius Mintoff, the founder of the Peace Laboratory emphasised that it is a Christian duty to provide care and comfort to those in need. Two migrants addressed the Pope; Daniel Jude Oukeguale, a Nigerian national who left his hometown five years ago and Siriman who has been living in Malta for the past 4 years with his wife who expecting a child. Among those present who spoke to Pope Francis at the end of the meeting, was Amara, one of three teenagers fighting controversial terrorism charges in Maltese courts, after being accused with two other migrants of hijacking a ship called the El-Hiblu in 2019.

Pope Francis highlighted the motto chosen for his apostolic visit – “they showed us unusual kindness” – which refers to the reception of St Paul and fellow travellers were given when they shipwrecked off the Maltese coast. “It is my hope that Malta will always treat those who land on its shores, offering them a genuinely safe harbour,” he added. While thousands who are crossing the Mediterranean are seeking a better life experienced shipwrecks as Saint Paul had done, Pope Francis spoke of another tragedy: a “shipwreck of civilisation” which is threatening us all. Pope Francis emphasised that the response to this threat to our civilisation has to be countered with kindness and humanity. He referred to Siriman’s account, stating that this could be done by regarding people not merely as statistics, but recognising them for what they really are, people who each had their own life stories and dreams. The Pope expressed his hope that migrants not only receive a welcome rich in kindness and humanity, but that they, to, become witnesses and agents of welcome and fraternity.
“Here is the future of the human family in a globalized world. I am happy to be able to share this dream with you today, just as you, in your testimonies, which you have shared your dreams with me,” he said. In his address, the Pope recognised that pursuing such an aim is no easy task, requiring immense patience and a love made up of closeness, tenderness and compassion. He also emphasised that the fundamental rights of millions of migrants were being violated, “sadly at times with the complicity of the competent authorities.” The Pope asked those gathered to pray for those who have lost their lives as they hoped to reach safety in Europe, including the death of a number of people leaving Libya a few days ago. He recalled his past visits to the Mediterranean islands of Lesbos and Lampedusa, two islands which have witnessed significant migratory flows.

The Ukrainian flags outside Peace Laboratory were flown by members of Maltàs Ukrainian community, in the wake of Russiàs invasion of their homeland which has caused what the United Nations has described as Europès fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War.

The Popès visit in Malta came just one day after more than 100 people, including 22 minors, were left stranded at sea, with the NGO Sea LIfe that rescued them from the sea said that the Maltese authorities had refused to assist. It is not the first time Malta has refused to offer a port of safety for people at sea, with the island often urging other EU member states to support with the influx of asylum seekers.

Pope Francis arrived in Malta on Saturday. He urged Malta to fight corruption and land speculation while addressing the Maltese authorities in Valletta.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

FLORIANA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Pope Francis’ visit to Malta has entered its final day and reached its peak on Sunday in which he celebrated a mass attended by some 20,000 people. The mass in Floriana was followed by the recitation of the Angelus.
At the end of the Angelus, the Pope turned his attention to the humanitarian tragedy continuing to unfold in Ukraine. “May we be tireless in praying and in offering assistance to those who suffer,” he said. “Peace be with you.” Referring to his apostolic visit to Malta, Pope Francis said: “I will bring back many memories of the events and conversations of these days. Above all, I will remember many of your faces, as well as the luminous face of Malta! I thank all those who worked so hard to prepare for this visit, and I cordially greet our brothers and sisters of the different Christian denominations and religions whom I have met in these days,” he said. “I ask all of you to pray for me, as I will for you. Let us pray for one another.” The Maltese islands, the Pope said, “breathe a sense of the People of God,” and he hoped that they may long continue to do so, following the example of Saint Gorg Preca, before turning his attention to the young “who are your future.” “Dear friends, I want to share with you the most beautiful thing in life. Do you know what it is? It is the joy of giving ourselves completely in love, which makes us free. That joy has a name: it is Jesus. I wish you the beauty of falling in love with Jesus, the God of mercy, who believes in you, dreams with you, loves your lives and will never disappoint you,” he said. The Pope also urged the young not to forget their roots, and to ensure that they keep in contact with the elderly, including their own grandparents.
The Popès address was made shortly after Archbishop Charles Scicluna expressed a few words of thanks for his Apostolic Visit to Malta. But the Pope insisted that in fact, he should really be the one saying “grazzi.” As he expressed his gratitude towards Pope Francis for his decision to visit Malta, Maltàs Archbishop Charles Scicluna expressed his hope that it would instill in the Maltese the same warmth of charity and unusual kindness that they had shown when they welcomed St Paul nearly two thousand years ago.
During the homily, Pope Francis warned the faithful against using an outward religiosity to “conceal the worm of hypocrisy” and point their fingers at others, emphasising that it was their behaviour which proved whether they were true disciples of Christ. His reflections were inspired by the Gospel reading of the day: the account of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. Pope Francis thus urged the faithful to ask themselves, whenever they prayed or participated in religious services, whether they were truly attuned to the Lord. The Pope also took the occasion to express his gratitude at the strong presence of the Catholic Church in Malta, observing that in Malta, the people of God were “numerous and lively, faithful in seeking the Lord through a concrete, lived faith. For this, I thank all of you”.
On the way to Floriana, the Pope has stopped for a short visit to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Hamrun, the chapel established by the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) founded by Saint Gorg Preca. It houses the sacred remains of the saint, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001 and canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
Early Sunday morning, Pope Francis met with the Jesuits community at the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat. Then, the Pontiff also visited St Paul’s Grotto at St Paul’s Basilica in Rabat where tradition says that St Paul lived during his stay in Malta. He mentioned that St Paul was welcomed by kindhearted pagan people, who treated him well. He prayed to God that as a nation understand the needs of immigrants and stated that mercy should not be lost with frivolous words but should be accept it. He also met with 14 representatives of different churches, who included Orthodox and Protestants. Many Rabat residents have gathered this morning in front of the St Paul’s Basilica to welcome Pope Francis. The crowd includes adults and children, many carrying the Vatican flag.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

GOZO (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Pope Francis was given a memorable welcome during his visit in Gozo late Saturday afternoon following an official meeting with the Maltese authorities in Valletta, Malta. The Pontiff is on a two-day apostolic visit to the Mediterranean island. Thousands of children and people of all ages waved the papal and Maltese flags on his way to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Tà Pinu in Gozo.
Addressing the hundreds of people at the Basilica, Pope Francis reiterated how crucial is the geographical position of the Maltese islands. “Yours is a crucial geographical position, overlooking the Mediterranean; you are like a magnet and port of salvation for people buffeted by the tempests of life who, for various reasons, land on your shores,” he said.
In his homily at Tà Pinu, Pope Francis warned that the repertoire of religious traditions does not always correspond to a vibrant faith marked by zeal for evangelization. It is important to ensure that religious practices are not reduced to relics of the past, he warned, as he underlined that religious practices should remain the expression of a living, open faith that spreads the joy of the Gospel.
Pope Francis was welcomed by he head of the diocese of Gozo Mgr. Anton Teuma. The Bishop of Gozo urged the Pope to help the Maltese and Gozitans so that like Mary will muster the courage to welcome those fleeing from wars and poverty, and seek refuge in the country. Addressing families who carry out pastoral work, civil leaders, priests, religious people, missionaries as well as members of ecclesiastical organisations and lay people gathered inside and outside the Basilica, Mgr. Teuma asked the Pope to help the faithful to consider wealth as a gift from God and share it with their brothers and sisters, instead of using it to corrupt, discriminate or create conflict and division. He also asked Pope Francis to help the faithful pray so that they may feel more responsible for the environment which he said is “disappearing from before our eyes without us realising.”
At the begining of the cermony, Pope Francis led the prayers inside the basilica. Then, the Pontiff presented the Golden Rose on the occasion of his visit to the Marian shrine in accordance with an ancient practice by which Popes show their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It consists of a pink marble base, surmounted by a silver vase with the papal coat of arms, from which emerge the branches with two roses in natural amber and the leaves chased in silver.
On Sunday morning, after a private meeting with the Jesuits at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Pope will visit St. Paul’s Grotto in St. Paul’s Basilica in Rabat and at 10:15am, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in Floriana which will also include the Angelus prayers. As many as 12,000 people had registered to attend the mass. Before leaving Malta, Pope Francis will visit migrants at the Peace Laboratory in Hal Far.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Malta has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases for this year. The local health authorities confirmed that 791 new cases were recorded during the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of active cases to 6,495 – the highest since December 2021.
Meanwhile, the health authorities confirmed another death caused by the virus. The number of patients who lost their life due to the pandemic increased to 639.
According to statistics published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, as of last week Malta had the lowest rate of Covid-19 patients receiving treatment in intensive care within the European Union.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Pope Francis has arrived in Malta for an apostolic voyage of two days. In his first speech while addressing the President of Malta George Vella, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Diplomatic Corps at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, Pope Francis likened Malta to the “heart of the Mediterranean” due to its geographical position.
Pope Francis highlighted the importance of strengthening shared roots and values which forged the Maltese society and explained that sound social coexistence requires that the foundations of life in society, which depends on law and legality. “Honesty, justice, a sense of duty and transparency are the essential pillars of a mature civil society. May your commitment to eliminate illegality and corruption be strong, like the north wind that sweeps the coasts of this country. May you always cultivate legality and transparency, which will enable the eradication of corruption and criminality, neither of which acts openly and in broad”.
Referring to the issue of migration, Pope Francis said the Mediterranean needs co-responsibility on the part of Europe, in order to become a new theatre of solidarity and not the harbinger of a tragic shipwreck of civilization, as he referred to St Paul’s last journey when he unexpectedly came to Malta.
“Today, when those who cross the Mediterranean in search of salvation are met with fear and the narrative of “invasion”, and safeguarding onès own security at any price seems to be the primary goal, let us help one another not to view the migrant as a threat and not to yield to the temptation of raising drawbridges and erecting walls,” Pope Francis said.
While Malta was preparing to receive Pope Francis, 106 asylum seekers including 22 unaccompanied minors, remain stranded at sea on a vessel operated by German humanitarian NGO Sea-Eye after local authorities have refused to offer the vessel a port of safety.
While refering to the growing migration emergency with a particular reference to the situation of refugees from war-torn Ukraine, Pope Francis called for a broad-based and shared response: “Some countries cannot respond to the entire problem, while others remain indifferent onlookers. Civilized countries cannot approve for their own interest sordid agreements with criminals who enslave other human beings. May Malta, the heart of the Mediterranean, continue to foster the heartbeat of hope,
care for life, acceptance of others, yearning for peace, with the help of the God whose name is peace”, Pope Francis said.
The Holy Father urged the Maltese authorities to protect the environment saying that the its protection and the promotion of social justice prepare for the future, and are optimal ways to instil in young people a passion for a healthy politics and to shield them from the temptation to indifference and lack of commitment. Pope Francis warned against rapacious greed and avarice: “It must therefore be kept safe from rapacious greed, from avarice and from construction speculation, which compromises not only the landscape but the very future.”
In his speech, the President of Malta George Vella who spoke before the Pope, mentioned the war in Ukraine and argued that it was unacceptable that 75 years after the end of World War 2, another war started in Ukraine. He promised Malta would continue promoting peace amongst the other nations and that it would offer aid to migrants that come to Malta. President Vella recognised the importance given by the Pope to the issue of migration, “We all feel your pain and disillusionment whenever dead bodies are washed on our shores and when migrants arrive in pitiful situations”, he said. “Malta has never shied away from its commitments and obligations to save lives.” However, the Maltese President asked for the support of other, better-resourced countries, when handling migrants. Aside from action plans and documents, solidarity, Vella said, had to be put into actual practice. He also made a heartfelt plea to protect the environment. “Our planet is sick, angry and tired. Yet we keep ignoring its manifest signs of environmental degradation, climate change and exploitation of its resources”. The President of Malta also touched on the sensitive issue of abortion and declared “we should above all respect the sanctity of life, from its beginning to its natural end.”
Following the meeting with Maltàs highest authorities, accompanied by the President and the Prime Minister, Pope Francis saluted the crowd from the Palace Balcony in Valletta.
Hundreds of Maltese and Gozitan youths have gathered since early morning in St Georgès Square to welcome Pope Francis. Many of the youths carried yellow and white flags that represent the symbol of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis arrived at around 10.00am at the Malta International Airport. He was met at the airport by the President of Malta George Vella and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, among other dignitaries who included the Apostolic Nuncio to Malta Mgr Alessandro D’Errico and Maltàs Archbishop Charles Scicluna. He was offered flowers by two children aged 3 and 6 who were waiting for him. Maltàs President George Vella was given by Pope Francis a medal depicting Saint Paul that was made Gozitan artist Manuel Farrugia.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government announced that it has started the process to revoke the Maltese citizenship to a Russian national following a decision by the government of the United States to add 13 individuals and 21 entities to its sanction list. One of the 13 individuals is Evgeniya Vladimirovna Bernova who holds Maltese citizenship and has connections to the Russian Intelligence services.

The Ministry for Home Affairs stated that “this is being done in accordance with the Maltese Citizenship Act and the respective Subsidiary Legislation, as these provide that the responsible minister may deprive persons who have been registered or naturalised with Maltese citizenship in those circumstances established by the same legal provisions.”

Bernova is linked to Malberg Ltd, one of the companies on the sanctions list, through her shareholding in Djeco Group Holding Ltd. The United States government said Bernova is an associate of the Serniya network and operates Malberg Ltd through a multinational web of shell companies. “Malberg has worked to deceptively acquire dual-use equipment on behalf of Russian end-users,” the statement said.

Bernovàs network includes Malberg’s Director, Nikita Aleksandrovich Sobolev, UK-based Djeco Group LP, Malta-based Djeco Group Holding Ltd, Malta-based Maltarent Ltd, and France-based SCI Griber. In addition, Moscow-based Sernia-Film Co Ltd, where Bernova has served as a director, has facilitated the export of equipment by Malberg to intended government users in Russia. Djeco Group Holding Ltd and Maltarent Ltd were also placed on the US sanctions list.

Sobolev, who serves as a director of the Malta-based firm and is a Maltese resident, was also added to the US sanctions.

The United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control described the sanctioned individuals as “operators in the Russian technology sector” that helped Russia illicitly procure dual-use equipment and technology for its defence sector.

“Russia not only continues to violate the sovereignty of Ukraine with its unprovoked aggression but also has escalated its attacks striking civilians and population centers,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “We will continue to target Putin’s war machine with sanctions from every angle, until this senseless war of choice is over.”

The European Commission is urging the Maltese to withdraw Maltese citizenship acquired by Russian and Belarussian nationals who bought EU citizenship through the golden passport scheme. Last month, Malta gave into international and national pressure and suspended the golden passports scheme for Russian and Belarusian applicants.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is ready to welcome Pope Francis with great enthusiasm and joy, the fourth papal visit to the Mediterranean island and the first in 16 years. Pope Francis is expected to land in Malta on Saturday morning for a two-day visit.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi said the Popès visit is “a message of hope for the challenges we face” and a message of love for the most vulnerable in society. “We hope that this visit will sow a seed of love, hope and faith which the country can reap in the future.”

Following the arrival ceremony at the Malta International Airport at 10am, he will be driven to the President’s Palace in Valletta, to meet President George Vella. A meeting is also scheduled with the new-elected Prime Minister Robert Abela. Pope Francis will also be meeting with the highest authorities of Malta and the diplomatic corps.

On Saturday afternoon, the Pope will depart the Grand Harbour aboard a fast ferry which will take him to Gozo where he will lead a prayer meeting at the The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Tà Pinu.

On Sunday morning, after a private meeting with the Jesuits at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Pope will visit St. Paul’s Grotto in St. Paul’s Basilica in Rabat. In St. Paul’s Grotto, which was visited by previous popes, Pope Francis will recite a special prayer related to the theme of his 36th apostolic journey, ‘They Showed Us Unusual Kindness’ – inspired by the welcome St Paul was given when his boat was shipwrecked and washed upon Maltàs shores in 60AD.

At 10:15am, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in Floriana which will also include the Angelus prayers. As many as 12,000 people had registered to attend the mass.

Before leaving Malta, Pope Francis will visit migrants at the Peace Laboratory in ?al Far. Pope Francis will be hearing the testimony of migrants and later recite prayers and give his blessing. The visit is taking place upon the Popès own request to meet migrants during his visit to Malta.

Pope Francis will then be driven to the Malta International Airport where a departure ceremony will be held before the Pontiff will fly back to Rome. The visit was originally planned for 2020 but had to be postponed because of the global pandemic.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – During the last 24 hours, the Maltese health authorities recorded 760 new cases of Covid-19 following yesterday’s 717 cases and the 353 cases recorded last Sunday.
While no new deaths were registered, the health authorties confirmed that there have been 303 recoveries in the past 24 hours. This situation brings the total number of active cases to 5,640 while the number of patients who lost their life due to the pandemic remained 638.
The local health authorities confirmed that the lifting of some of the Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in public mobility are the main reasons for the increase in the daily cases of Covid-19. Most of the new registered cases like anywhere in Europe are from omicron subvariant.
Despite the increase in the new cases, the new Maltese government has decided to lift all anti-Covid restrictions in the coming weeks.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews