https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143570 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:42:49 GMT 2026-04-24T02:42:49Z https://www.um.edu.mt:443/library/oar/retrieve/f4a5d68b-f2a6-4933-91da-542d50dcb58e/frontcover.png https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143570 https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143625 Title: Sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Malta Authors: Attard, Stefan M.; Camilleri, Charló Abstract: The second book, ‘Sixty Years of Diplomatic Relations between the Holy See and Malta’, edited by the Dean, Rev. Prof. Stefan Attard, and the Deputy Dean, Rev. Prof. Charlo Camilleri, brings together contributions by eleven academics from our Faculty. The essays explore key aspects of Maltese identity and Church–State relations, including history, spirituality, theological formation, biblical scholarship, marriage and jurisdiction, papal and presidential discourse, public theology, cultural diplomacy, and Malta’s Mediterranean heritage. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143625 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143624 Title: From conflict to concord: the evolution of Malta–Holy See relations and the path to diplomatic recognition (19th–20th centuries) Authors: Doublet, Nicholas Joseph Abstract: This study examines the intricate historical and diplomatic development of the relationship between the Holy See and Malta from the early nineteenth century to the late twentieth century. Covering periods of colonial dominance, constitutional change, and post-independence diplomacy, this work explores how ecclesiastical and civil authorities negotiated their respective jurisdictions amid changing political landscapes. Rooted in Malta’s long-standing Catholic identity and influenced by the island’s strategic significance within the British Empire, the Holy See-Malta relationship provides a unique case study of how Church-State relations adapt to legal, cultural, and geopolitical shifts. The analysis is arranged both chronologically and thematically. It starts with the attempt of legal reform to adapt ecclesiastical jurisdiction and its exercise of justice to the demands and necessities of a transformed society under colonial rule (1800–1964), highlighting how the Proclamations V of 1828 and I of 1838 aimed to rearticulate ecclesiastical authority in the context of the limited jurisdiction tolerated by the colonial administration. It then explores three major political-religious conflicts of the twentieth century: the first involving Lord Strickland and the Maltese episcopate (1927–1932), the second centred on Dom Mintoff’s proposed integration with the United Kingdom (1955–1958), and the third, post-independence, concerning church schools (1981–1985). These crises revealed profound divisions between ecclesiastical and civil notions of Maltese identity and governance. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143624 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143623 Title: Spirituality in postcolonial Malta : a journey of faith and identity Authors: Attard, Glen; Camilleri, Charló Abstract: At the crossroads between Europe and Africa, Malta has long been shaped by its pivotal and strategic position at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Despite its small size and being separated from mainland Europe, the island is rich in history and connected to great historical currents that have crossed its waters. The Maltese language, having its own distinctive Latin alphabet, Semitic grammar and morphology, and a mixed Semitic, Romance, and Anglo-Saxon vocabulary, reflects a cultural interweaving of the Romance and Semitic worlds. The same holds for the island’s social traditions, emphasising family life and the Maltese’s religious identity. These characteristics are a tangible reminder of the many foreign powers that have left their mark on the Maltese psyche over the centuries: the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Ottomans, Normans, Angevines, Aragonese, Knights of St John, the French, and lastly, the British. Despite enduring difficult times and often facing limited resources, the Maltese people remained resilient, grounded in core values such as family and faith, social solidarity, and courage; these enduring principles helped shape the nation’s identity as the smallest member of the European Union. [excerpt] Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143623 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143622 Title: A formation proposal in 1980 by the Faculty of Theology in Malta to educate students from mission countries : a footnote to the contacts between the local Church and the Holy See Authors: Scerri, Hector Abstract: The Faculty of Theology had been “unceremoniously ousted” from the University of Malta in 1978 on the basis of the Education Act (Act XXI) passed by the Maltese House of Representatives. This led to a ten-year period during which the Faculty functioned as an autonomous academic institution. The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education had granted it the authority to confer canonical degrees to those who followed its programmes in philosophy, theology and religious studies at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Those were indeed difficult and challenging times not only for the Faculty of Theology, but also for the Church in Malta. Yet, despite the difficult circumstances, the Faculty flourished, its student numbers increased exponentially, and it sought to propose new initiatives both to the local Church and to the universal Church. [excerpt] Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143622 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z