Extend Your Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to The Maltese Islands, A Mediterranean Archipelago of Hope: Pilgrims of Hope 2025

His Holiness Pope Francis declared 2025 a year of Jubilee, from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026. Jubilee years happen every 25 years.

The theme of the 2025 Jubilee year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Malta, an archipelago in the Mediterranean, a 90-minute flight (approx.) from Rome and just a ferry ride from Sicily (approx. 52.1 nautical miles), presents the perfect opportunity to extend one’s Jubilee Year Pilgrimage and explore the historic relationship between the Maltese Islands and the Christian faith.

Steeped in 8,000 years of history, the Maltese Islands have three UNESCO World Heritage sites including Valletta, the Capital. Malta’s ties with Christianity date back to when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the archipelago’s shores, accompanied by Saint Luke. Today, pilgrims visiting the archipelago will still find fervent Christian devotion, and in fact, in 2023, Malta officially became a part of the traditional Pilgrimage Route, Camino de Santiago.

Madonna Ta’Pinu in titular painting, photo by Daniel Cilia

Special Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope 2025 Events in Malta

The Archdiocese of Malta is organizing various programs related to Pilgrims of Hope 2025, including liturgical celebrations. Also, the Archdiocese has designated the Melita Mariana Pilgrimage dedicated to Marian devotions in Malta throughout the ages, as the Jubilee Year pilgrimage and is encouraging pilgrims to venture out on the routes. Melita Mariana is a collaborative effort between XirCammini, VisitMalta, Heritage Malta, and XirCammini members and volunteers and aims to explore religious and historical aspects through a 3-day, 60km (approx. 37 miles) pilgrimage encompassing ancient, old, and recent Marian devotions across Malta and Gozo. Melita Mariana can be walked on one’s own as a self-guided tour, but group pilgrimages will also be organized. If interested in this Pilgrimage, please visit this link for more details.

For more information regarding Jubilee Year events in Malta: please visit the Archdiocese of Malta website, gublew.mt or contact them on [email protected].

Our Lady of Sorrows Procession 2022 by Archdiocese of Malta

About Malta

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere. Valletta, built by the proud Knights of St. John, is one of the UNESCO sites and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta’s patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire’s most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 8,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do.

For more information on Malta, visit www.visitmalta.com.

About Gozo

Gozo’s colors and flavors are brought out by the radiant skies above it and the blue sea which surrounds its spectacular coast, which is simply waiting to be discovered. Steeped in myth, Gozo is thought to be the legendary Calypso’s Isle of Homer’s Odyssey – a peaceful, mystical backwater. Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside. Gozo’s rugged landscape and spectacular coastline await exploration with some of the Mediterranean’s best dive sites. Gozo is also home to one of the archipelago’s best-preserved prehistoric temples, Ġgantija, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more information on Gozo, please visit www.VisitGozo.com.

Written By Jean Pierre Fava – VisitMalta