Maltese Saints, Beatified, Bishops and Archbishops, Bishop Administrators, Coadjutors and Auxiliaries of Malta. Bishops of Gozo, Inquisitors and Apostolic delegates to Malta, Apostolic Nuncios to Malta, and Other Bishoprics and Notable Offices abroad with a Maltese connection (1802 onwards) including Cardinals.
Last update: 16-05-2024.
This page has changed to give an overview of Maltese Saints canonized or pending canonization, the Bishops of Malta, Inquisitors and Apostolic Delegates, and other Bishoprics and Notable Offices abroad with a Maltese connection.
There is very little record of the early period of Maltese church history. Tradition holds that Christianity was introduced to Malta by St. Paul during his stay after the shipwreck, c. November A.D. 60, as related in the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, chs. XXVII-XXVIII.
Scanty archaeological remains prove that Christianity was already established in A.D. 600.
In later years, Malta was considered a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Palermo, Sicily, by a Bull of Pope Adrian IV (Nicholas Breakspeare) dated 10 July 1156, and confirmed by Alexander III, 26 April 1160. There are many gaps in the period until the year 1432. By a Papal brief dated 3 March 1797, Bishop VincenzoLabini and all his successors in the diocese of Malta, were given the title of Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes. This privilege was later suppressed, and the title was changed to “Archbishop, Bishop of Malta. The Diocese of Malta was elevated to an Archdiocese on 1 January 1944.
The Metropolitan Cathedral in Mdina is the Cathedral of Malta. Its date of origin is unknown. It is dedicated to the Conversion of St. Paul and was consecrated 8 October 1702 by Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri.
The island of Gozo, including Comino, was erected into a separate and independent diocese in 1864, enjoying all the relative privileges and immunities.
The suffragan diocese of Gozo has its own Cathedral which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin (15 August). It was consecrated by Bishop Giacomo Cannaves, 11 October 1716 and elevated as a Cathedral at the appointment of a Bishop for the Diocese of Gozo, 22 September 1864.
Maltese Saints
| Year of Elevation | Name (hyperlink to genealogy) |
| Beatified, 9 May 2001; Canonized 3 June 2007 | Preca, George. |
Pending (Official) Causes for Canonization
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name (hyperlink to genealogy) |
| Blessed | Beatified, 9 May 2001 | PISANI, Maria Adeodata (born Maria Teresa). |
| Blessed | Beatified, 9 May 2001 | FALZON, Ignazio. |
| Blessed | Beatified, 8 Dec 2018 | Littlejohn, Jeanne. |
Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name |
| Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church | 1818 | Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata. |
| Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church | 2012 | Prospero Stanley Grech. |
| Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church | 2020 | Mario Grech. |
BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOPS OF MALTA FROM 1780.
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1780-1807 | LABINI, Vincenzo |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1807-1829 | Mattei, Ferdinando. |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1831-1847 | CARUANA, Francesco Saverio. |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1847-1857 | Sant, Publio Maria. |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1857-1874 | Pace Forno, Gaetano. |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1874-1888 | Scicluna, Carmelo. |
| Bishop of Malta/Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes | 1888-1914 | Pace, Pietro. |
| Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes/Archbishop, Bishop of Malta | 1914-1943 | Caruana, Maurus. |
| Archbishop, Bishop of Malta | 1943-1976 | Gonzi, Michael. |
| Archbishop, Bishop of Malta | 1976-2007 | Mercieca, Joseph. |
| Archbishop, Bishop of Malta | 2007-2015 | Cremona, Paul. |
| Archbishop, Bishop of Malta | 2015- | Scicluna, Charles. |
BISHOP ADMINISTRATORS, COADJUTORS AND AUXILIARIES OF MALTA
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name |
| Administrator | 1885 | BUHADGIAR, Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Antonio Maria. |
| Auxiliary | 1898 | Gaffiero, Salvatore. |
| Auxiliary | 1907 | Farrugia, Paolo Rosario. |
| Auxiliary | 1911 | Portelli, Angelo. |
| Administrator | 1914 | Buhagiar, Antonio Maria. |
| Auxiliary | 1942 | Galea, Emanuele. |
| Coadjutor | 1943 | Gonzi, Michael. |
| Auxiliary | 1967 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Coadjutor | 1968 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Auxiliary | 1974 | Mercieca, Joseph. |
| Auxiliary | 1998 | Despasquale, Annetto. |
| Auxiliary | 2012 | Scicluna, Charles. |
| Auxiliary | 2018 | Galea Curmi, Joseph. |
BISHOPS OF GOZO
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1864-1866 | Buttigieg, Michele Francesco. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1868-1876 | Grech Delicata Testaferrata, Antonio. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1877-1889 | Pace, Pietro. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1889-1925 | Camilleri, Giovanni Maria. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1925-1943 | Gonzi, Michael. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1945-1972 | Pace, Giuseppe. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 1972-2005 | Cauchi, Nikol Joseph. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 2005-2020 | Grech, Mario. |
| Bishop of Gozo | 2020- | Teuma, Anton. |
BISHOP ADMINISTRATORS OF GOZO
| Title | Year of Elevation | Name |
| Coadjutor | 1863 | Buttigieg, Michele Francesco. |
| Auxiliary | 1967 | Cauchi, Nikol Joseph. |
Other Bishoprics and Notable Offices abroad with a Maltese connection (1802- 2020)
| Title | Year of Elevation. | Name. |
| Titular Archbishop of Palmyra | 1904 | Agius, Ambrose. |
| Apostolic Delegate to Philippines | 1904 | Agius, Ambrose. |
| Co-adjudicating Bishop at Garissa in Kenya | 2012 | Alessandro, Joe. |
| Bishop of Malindi, Kenya | 2000 | Baldacchino, Francis. |
| Auxilary Bishop of Miami | 2014 | Baldacchino, Peter. |
| Bishop of Las Cruces | 2019 | Baldacchino, Peter. |
| Auxiliary Bishop of la Serena, in Chile | 2024 | Mgr Henry Joseph Balzan. [Times of Malta] |
| Bishop of Malindi Diocese in Kenya | 2011 | Barbara, Emmanuele. |
| Bishop of Juticlpa in Honduras | 2010 | Bonello, Joseph. |
| Co-adjutor Bishop of Tripoli | 2015 | Bugeja, George. |
| Vicar Apostolic of Tunis, Tunisia | 1884 | BUHADGIAR, Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Antonio Maria. |
| Titular Bishop of Ruspae | 1884 | BUHADGIAR, Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Antonio Maria. |
| Apostolic Delegate to Haiti | 1890 | BUHADGIAR, Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Antonio Maria. |
| Apostolic Delegate to Venezuela | 1890 | BUHADGIAR, Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Antonio Maria. |
| Co-adjutor Bishop of Tripoli | 1863 | Buttigieg, Michele Francesco. |
| Titular Bishop of Methone | 1924 | Camilleri, Giovanni Maria. |
| Titular Bishop of Vagada | 2001 | Camilleri Azzopardi, Robert. |
| Bishop of Comayagua, Honduras | 2004 | Camilleri Azzopardi, Robert. |
| Bishop of Gibraltar | 1998 | CARUANA, Charles. |
| Bishop of Puerto Rico (Porto Rico) | 1921 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico | 1924 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Apostolic Delegate to México | 1925 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Titular Archbishop of Sebastea | 1925 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Apostolic Internuncio to Haiti | 1935 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba | 1935 | CARUANA, George Joseph (Jorge José). |
| Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa {Africa Centrale}, Sudan | 1846 | Casolani, Annetto. |
| Titular Bishop of Mauricastro | 1846 | Casolani, Annetto. |
| Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa {Africa Centrale}, Sudan | 1847 | Casolani, Annetto. |
| Titular Bishop of Vicus Augusti | 1967 | Cauchi, Nikol Joseph. |
| Bishop of Santiago Apostol de Huancane | 2019 | Cefai, Giovanni. |
| Auxiliary Bishop of Londrina, Parana, Brazil | 1998 | Costa, Vincent. |
| Titular Bishop of Aquae Flaviae | 1998 | Costa, Vincent. |
| Bishop of Umuarama, Parana, Brazil | 2002 | Costa, Vincent. |
| Bishop of Jundiaí, Sao Paulo, Brazil | 2009 | Costa, Vincent. |
| Bishop of Garissa, Kenya | 1984 | Darmanin, Paolo. |
| Titular Bishop of Aradi | 1998 | Despasquale, Annetto. |
| Bishop of União daVitória, Parana, Brazil | 1976 | Ebejer, Walter M. |
| Bishop of Comayagua | 2024 | Falzon, Angelo. |
| Titular Bishop of Hamatha | 1907 | Farrugia, Paolo Rosario. |
| Prefect of Jhansi, India | 1946 | Fenech, Francis X. |
| Bishop of Jhansi, India | 1954 | Fenech, Francis X. |
| Titular Bishop of Muzuca in Byzacena | 1967 | Fenech, Francis X. |
| Auxiliary Bishop of Tiranë-Durrës, Albania | 2006 | Frendo, George Anthony. |
| Titular Bishop of Buthrotum | 2006 | Frendo, George Anthony. |
| Titular Bishop of Selymbria | 1898 | Gaffiero, Salvatore. |
| Titular Bishop of Tralles in Asia | 1942 | Galea, Emmanuele. |
| Bishop of Darwin, NT, Australia. | 2018 | Gauci, Charles. |
| Prelate of Chuquibamba, Peru | 1962 | Gauci, Redento Maria. |
| Titular Bishop of Ida in Mauretania | 1967 | Gauci, Redento Maria. |
| Titular Bishop of Nomentum | 1967 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to El Salvador | 1973 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala | 1973 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Pakistan | 1988 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland | 1989 | Gerada, Emmanuele. |
| Titular Archbishop of Tyndaris | 1986 | Giglio, Paul. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua | 1986 | Giglio, Paul. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, Arab Republic of | 1995 | Giglio, Paul. |
| Titular Bishop of Lyrbe | 1943 | Gonzi, Michael. |
| Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Australia | 1998 | Grech, Joseph Angelo. |
| Titular Bishop of Belesasa | 1998 | Grech, Joseph Angelo. |
| Bishop of Sandhurst, Australia | 2001 | Grech, Joseph Angelo. |
| Titular Bishop of Calydon | 1867 | Grech Delicata Testaferrata, Antonio. |
| Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi, Libya | 1997 | Magro, Sylvester Carmel. |
| Titular Bishop of Saldae | 1997 | Magro, Sylvester Carmel. |
| Titular Bishop of Paphus | 1805 | Mattei, Ferdinando. |
| Titular Bishop of Gemellae in Numidia | 1974 | Mercieca, Joseph. |
| Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait | 1981 | Micallef, Francis George Adeodatus. |
| Titular Bishop of Tinis in Proconsulari | 1981 | Micallef, Francis George Adeodatus. |
| Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait | 1982 | Micallef, Francis George Adeodatus. |
| Bishop of Città di Castello, Italy | 1863 | Micallef, Paolo. |
| Titular Bishop of Hebron | 1857 | Pace Forno, Gaetano. |
| Titular Bishop of Selinus | 1911 | Portelli, Angelo. |
| Titular Archbishop of Berytus | 1802 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Switzerland | 1803 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Secretary of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars | 1815 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Cardinal In Pectore | 1816 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Bishop of Senigallia, Italy | 1818 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Cardinal-Priest of S. Pudenziana | 1818 | Sceberras Testaferrata, Fabrizio. |
| Titular Archbishop of Serta | 2009 | Spiteri, Joseph. |
| Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka | 2009 | Spiteri, Joseph. |
| Bishop of Izmir, Turkey, Titular Archbishop of Garella, 1937, Miletus, 1939. | 1929 | Tonna, Edoardo. |
| Titular Archbishop of Amantia, Apostolic Nuncio to South Korea and Mongolia | 2018 | Xuereb, Mgr Alfred. |
| Bishop of Gibraltar | 2016 | Zammit, Carmelo. |
Other Bishoprics and Notable Offices abroad with a Maltese connection (2020 -)
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Canada [Link 1] Titular Bishop of Teglata in Numidia | 2020 2020 | |