Pope appoints Cardinal Grech as his special envoy to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Coronation of the statue of the Assumption venerated in the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of Gozo

 

Letter of the Holy Father to the special envoy to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the coronation of the statue of the Assumption venerated in the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of Gozo, 09.08.2025

The Holy Father Leo XIV has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the General Secretariat of the Synod, as his special envoy to the celebration of the coronation of the statue of the Assumption in the Cathedral of Gozo, Malta, to be held on 15 August 2025.

The special envoy will be accompanied by a pontifical mission composed of the following ecclesiastics:

1) Msgr. Tarcisio Camilleri, Vicar General of the Diocese of Gozo;

2) Msgr. Edward Zammit, Chancellor of the Diocesan Curia of Gozo.

Latin letter with English translation below

Venerabili Fratri Nostro

MARIO S.R.E. Cardinali GRECH

Secretario Generali Secretariae Generalis Synodi

Immaculatam Virginem, quae a Deo ab initio saeculorum supra omnem creaturam praedestinata itemque constituta est, veluti advocata gratiae sanctitatisque exemplar pro suo populo acquisitionis in Christi exaltationis paschali mysterio, scilicet in laudem gloriae ipsius (cfr Eph 1,14), fideles indesinenter laudant. Eius quidem beatam in caelum assumptionem itidemque aliam mirificam exaltationem Ecclesia amanter contemplatur atque admiratur necnon ei varias in terrarum orbe imagines et effigies devotissime dicat, quas christifideles ad ineffabilem Dei dilectionem erga homines edocendam, pia suavique mentis intentione auro gemmisque distinctis coronis exornant.

Laetantes ex litteris Venerabilis Fratris Antonii Teuma, Episcopi Gaudisiensis, atque Capituli cathedralis eius novimus in eadem ecclesia, nempe Dormitioni Mariae dicata, quinquagesimum anniversarium coronationis effigiei Assumptae, quae super altari iam ab anno MDCCXCI hoc in templo, veluti signum fidelis devotionis et coniunctionis in fide huius communitatis, est posita, inter Missarum Sollemnia diei XV proximi mensis Augusti, scilicet in sollemnitate Assumptionis Beatae Mariae Virginis, celebratum iri. Considerata quidem humili petitione iam dicti Praesulis, Decessori Nostro bo. me. Francisco scripta, opportunum quidem Nobis videtur, ut, ad diligentiore usque modo pondus ac gaudium huius eventus reddendum, Patrem Purpuratum eligamus, qui Nostram personam gerat atque Evangelii gaudio congregatum populum apte congruenterque confirmet.

Rerum adiunctis vero attente consideratis, videlicet virtute harum Litterarum, Praedecessoris Nostri voluntatem sequentes, te, Venerabilis Frater Noster, qui diligenter munus Secretarii Generalis Secretariae Generalis Synodi exples, Missum Extraordinarium Nostrum ad illum supradictum eventum sollemniter explendum libentes fidentique animo confirmamus, ita ut sacris ritibus nomine Nostro praesideas ac Dei populum de Beatae Mariae Virginis intercessione eiusque evectione pro christifidelium bono, in qua testimonium unicuique eorum praebetur eius Filium mortem vicisse itidemque in ea, scilicet dilecta Matre et discipula, omnes ex aqua et Spiritu natos (cfr Io 3,5) in vitam velle introducere, enixe edoceas.

Proinde, Venerabilis Frater Noster, te diligenter quaesumus, ut ibi adstantes cunctos Fratres in episcopatu, civiles Auctoritates, presbyteros, diaconos atque vitae consecratae sodales necnon christifideles laicos comiter salutes, Nostram benevolentiam eis ostendens, quibus omnibus suademus, ut tempore huius Anni Sancti testimonium fidei, spei et caritatis imo e pectore perhibeant.

Nos missionem tuam orationibus comitabimur teque, Venerabilis Frater Noster, tutelae Beatae Mariae Virginis in caelum Assumptae eiusque Sponsi s. Ioseph fidenti animo committimus. Nostram denique Benedictionem Apostolicam prolixe tibi imprimis elargimur, cum omnibus ad quos nunc mitteris communicandam.

Ex Arce Gandulfi, die XVI mensis Iulii, in memoria Beatae Mariae Virginis de Monte Carmelo, Anno Sancto MMXXV, Pontificatus Nostri primo.

The Immaculate Virgin, who was predestined and established by God from the beginning of time above all creatures, as the advocate of grace and a model of holiness for her people to acquire in the Paschal mystery of Christ's exaltation, namely, to the praise of his glory (cf. Eph 1:14), is unceasingly praised by the faithful. Indeed, the Church lovingly contemplates and admires her blessed assumption into heaven and her other wonderful exaltation, and most devoutly dedicates to her various images and effigies throughout the world, which the faithful of Christ, in order to teach the ineffable love of God towards men, adorn with pious and sweet intention of mind crowns of gold and precious stones.

We rejoice in the letter of Venerable Brother Antonio Teuma, Bishop of Gaudi, and of his Cathedral Chapter, that in the same church, dedicated to the Dormition of Mary, the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of the image of the Assumption, which has been placed on the altar in this church since 1791, as a sign of the faithful devotion and union in the faith of this community, will be celebrated during the Solemnity of the Masses of the 15th of next August, namely on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Having considered the humble petition already written by the said Prelate, Our Predecessor, bo. me. Francisco, it seems appropriate to Us, in order to render even more carefully the weight and joy of this event, to choose a Cardinal, who will bear Our person and suitably and fittingly confirm the people gathered together in the joy of the Gospel.

Having carefully considered the circumstances of the matter, namely by virtue of this Letter, following the will of Our Predecessor, We confirm you, Venerable Brother, who diligently fulfills the office of Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, as Our Extraordinary Missionary to solemnly celebrate the aforementioned event, so that you may preside over the sacred rites in Our name and diligently teach the people of God about the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her ascension for the good of the Christian faithful, in which testimony is given to each of them that her Son conquered death and that in her, namely, her beloved Mother and disciple, she desires to bring into life all who are born of water and the Spirit (cf. Jn 3:5).

Therefore, Venerable Brother, we earnestly ask you to cordially greet all the Brothers in the episcopate, the civil authorities, the priests, deacons and members of consecrated life as well as the lay faithful present there, showing them Our goodwill, to whom we urge them to bear witness of faith, hope and charity from the heart during this Holy Year.

We accompany your mission with our prayers and, Venerable Brother, we entrust you with a trusting spirit to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven, and of her Spouse, St. Joseph. Finally, we extend to you, first of all, our extensive Apostolic Blessing, to be communicated to all to whom you are now sent.

From the Castel Gandolfo, on the 16th of July, in the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, in the Holy Year 2025, the first of Our Pontificate.

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