Id-Dar tal-Providenza welcomes the beatification of Pope John Paul I

Id-Dar tal-Providenza, that has one of its villas named after Pope John Paul I, welcomes his beatification that is taking place this Sunday, 4th September 2022. His beatification is happening during a celebration led by His Holiness, Pope Francis in Vatican Square. The Italian Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected Pope on the 26th August 1978 and chose the name of John Paul as a sign of respect towards his predecessors, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. He died suddenly thirty-four days later on September 28th 1978.

 

Villa Papa Luciani, at Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi, was inaugurated thirty-five years ago on September 8th, 1987, four months after the death of its founder, Mgr. Mikiel Azzopardi. Actually, it was Dun Mikiel’s wish that this villa is named after Pope John Paul I also known as Papa Luciani or the Pope with the smile. This villa has two flats, each of them hosting nine persons with disability.

 

Id-Dar tal-Providenza also cherishes a reliquary of Pope John Paul I. The relic is a small piece of material from one of his trousers. It was donated to the Home in 2019 by the Museo dei Papi of Padova Italy, thanks to Mr Frank Zammit, Ambassador to the Holy See. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Carmelo Abela, had presented that material, now a relic, to Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in the presence of Ambassador Zammit.

 

This post is also available in: Maltese