Mgr Tommaso Caputo, Apostolic Nuncio of Malta will lead the 20th anniversary commemoration of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Gozo in 1990. This news was made public by Mgr Joseph Attard, Archpriest of the Gozo Cathedral Church.

On Wednesday, the 26th of May 2010, Mgr Caputo will be welcomed by the Leone Band of Victoria in Independence Square at 6.30pm, and accompanied uphill towards the Gozo Cathedral within the Citadel. Parish children, including candidates for Holy Communion and Confirmation sacraments will participate in the festive cortege. Once at the Cathedral church, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady (Santa Marija), Mgr Caputo will be welcomed by the Reverend Chapter and Clergy, visits the Holy Sacrament, imitating John Paul II after twenty years to the date, and then leads a Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving.

The Cathedral Archpriest shared this news on the second Wednesday of the Assumption of Our Lady. In fact, the 20th anniversary of John Paul II’s visit on 26th May 1990 will incidentally fall on the fourth out of fifteen Wednesdays in preparation for the Santa Marija feast. Therefore the liturgical service will coincide with the special Wednesday’s programme of functions.

Way back twenty years ago, the late popular pontiff was conducting his first visit to Malta, since now being the only one in Gozo. He celebrated mass outside Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary during which he put golden stars around Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu’s crowned head, and held a very important meeting with the priests, religious and lay people at the Gozo Cathedral in the Citadel.

A highly significant message delivered in English on that occasion by His Holiness is still available on the Vatican website in English and Italian which may be accessed by clicking on this link. This visit is still attested to with a commemorative plaque inside the Cathedral Church and one of the bronze monuments on the church parvis.

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