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: 01-07-2022.

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.
 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.
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 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

Ivan Camilleri.

Ivan Camilleri.