Over the weekend, news broke that a Maltese priest who has been working as a missionary in Peru passed away after contracting COVID-19. Yesterday, Fr Giovanni Cefai announced that Fr Valeriano (Valerjan) Mercieca’s funeral will be held this evening at 5pm, Malta time.

“It will be transmitted on Facebook [via] Giovanni Cefai, Radio Pucara and prelature huancane,” he shared.

Tributes in honour of Fr Mercieca were shared by various locals and orders, including the Carmelite Order in Bolivia, where he was based for many years. The Order thanked him “for the tireless missionary service that our brother gave to our beloved Bolivian lands.”  A few churches in Malta have also announced they will be dedicating masses for the repose of his soul this week.

It has been reported that Mercieca passed away in hospital in Peru where he was recently carrying out his mission.