Many locals were all geared up for the Pope’s upcoming trip to the Maltese Islands after it was announced back in September that Pope Francis was planning to stop by in December. And with good reason too - this excitement comes after the Vatican canceled its first visit to the islands back in 2020 for obvious reasons - that is, the COVID-19 pandemic, which was highly widespread at the time. 

Unfortunately, it has been decided to postpone the visit until 2022. Gozitans will also feel this one, as the visit also included a pit stopover on our sister Island of Gozo. 

Once again, the postponement comes as a result of fear of a possible spike in COVID-19 cases in the coming winter months. Another reason for the cancellation is the probability of an early election. 

Sources told the Times of Malta that part of the conditions set by the Vatican when agreeing to the visit was that the visit would not happen in the midst of an election, whether it be in the weeks before or after it took place. 

The Vatican must like our little island, as Pope Francis will be the third to visit Malta, after his predecessors John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

We hope to see you here in 2022!