Today the Holy Father Francis received in audience the president of the Republic of Malta, Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and Malta were evoked, focusing in particular on the special contribution of the Catholic religion in the formation of the identity of the country and on the relevant role of the Church in promoting the human and cultural progress of society…

The Vatican has created new email addresses for well wishers to leave Birthday messages for Pope Francis, who turns 80 years old on December 17th.

According to his staff, Pope Francis will be working “just as normal” on the day itself. He will receive the President of Malta in audience and will later meet with the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Oullet, as well as other guests and dignitaries…

L‑Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna, l‑Arċisqof Emeritu Mons. Pawlu Cremona u l-Vigarju Ġenerali Mons. Joe Galea Curmi ser jilqgħu lill‑awtoritajiet tal‑Istat u lill‑korpi kostitwiti għall‑bdil tal‑awguri tal-Milied u l-bidu tas-Sena l-Ġdida, it-Tlieta 27 ta’ Diċembru, fil‑Palazz tal‑Arċisqof, il‑Belt Valletta.

Fl‑okkażjoni tal‑festi ta’ żmien il‑Milied u l‑bidu tas‑Sena l‑Ġdida, l‑Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna, l‑Arċisqof Emeritu Mons. Pawlu Cremona u l-Vigarju Ġenerali Mons…

Pope Francis on Thursday greeted young patients, their families and hospital staff of Rome’s ‘Bambino Gesù’ Children’s Hospital and encouraged them to nurture hope and to say ‘thank you’ to God for having shown us the way to give meaning to our human existence.

Amongst the hundreds of children at the audience receiving care from the Vatican hospital, were young patients from across the world including 15 kids from the Central African Republic where the ‘Bambino Gesù’ has a special cooperation project like the ones in Jordan and in Palestine which reach out to give medical assistance to refugee children from Syria and Iraq…

• Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna has appointed Mro Hamish Dustagheer as ‘Maestro di Cappella’ of the Metropolitan Cathedral. This appointment follows a public call for applications. The ‘Maestro di Cappella’ is to prepare and direct the music and choir during liturgical celebrations at the Metropolitan Cathedral and St John’s Co-Cathedral. He is also to promote liturgical music in the Archdiocese of Malta…

Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the theme of ‘Christian hope’ at his Wednesday General Audience, saying the Kingdom brought by Jesus at his birth calls us to be joyful heralds in a world that “yearns for justice, truth, and peace”.

Pope Francis focused his reflection on the words of the prophet Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains, are the feet of the one bringing good news” (Is 52:7,9-10)…