The Diocese of Gozo has announced its new Heraldic Coat of Arms, the first in its history.

At the initiative of the Bishop’s Secretariat and the Communications Office within the Gozo Episcopal Curia, and on an original idea by Fr Roberto Gauci, the final design of the coat of arms was worked out and executed in accordance with the heraldry regulations by Dr Charles A. Gauci, Chief Herald of Arms of Malta within Heritage Malta.

In this process, the Diocese said that it also consulted the historian Mons. Dr. Joseph Bezzina, former Diocesan Archivist.

In a statement, the Diocese said that the official approval of this Coat of Arms by the Office of the Chief Herald of Arms of Malta took place on the 16th of September, the 157th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Gozo.

The official presentation of the design is expected to take place in the coming weeks by Heritage Malta officials to the Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma.

The coat of arms is composed of two main elements: the actual coat of arms on the inside of the shield, and the symbols of the diocese on the outside.

1. The shield is composed of two horizontal sections:

a. The main lower part, which occupies two thirds, is an almost exact reproduction of the Gozo Heraldic Coat of Arms, which is `Party per fess,’ Sable three hills with Silver fess.

It shows a horizontally split background: two-thirds of the top is silver; one third at the bottom is made up of six parallel wavy and horizontal bands alternating between silver and black, a silver top and a black bottom. At the top, three slightly pointed black hills, the highest in the centre and in front of the other two hills.

This heraldic coat of arms originated from that of the Universitas – the regional government of Gozo (1350-1819) – and was certainly in use at the end of the sixteenth century. By the Coat of Arms of Regional Committees Order, 2014, as part of the Local Councils Act (A.L. 364 of 2014), it was declared as the official Coat of Arms of the Gozo Region.

b. The upper part, which occupies a third, shows the image of a lion with a crown on its head and standing with its legs open, with its hind paw resting on a globe, against a background of a horizontal band (fess) of ‘dark blue color (azure).

This is a detail borrowed from the Heraldic Coat of Arms of Blessed Pope Pius IX (1792-1878), the founder of the Diocese of Gozo and Comino, founded by the Bull Singulari Amore – with remarkable love – on the 16th of September 1864.

2. On the outside of the shield are the symbols associated with the Diocese of Gozo:

a. A simple, white, gold episcopal mitre, with its two golden bands descending, is draped over each side of the shield.

b. A Latin processional cross and a Baklu (the staff representing the Bishop’s function as Shepherd) cross diagonally (saltire) on the back of the shield.

These symbols are common to any coat of arms of a Diocese or Episcopal See, and may be added to other elements.

The Diocese of Gozo said that “this Heraldic Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Gozo, the first in its history, is being made official in connection with Jum Ghawdex, the 28th of October.”

On this day in 1798, the Gozitan people, aided by the British and Portuguese fleets, emerged victorious over the French rulers and ruled Gozo autonomously through a provisional government made up entirely of Gozitans.

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