UPDATE – Pope Francis to visit Malta on April 2 – reports

Media reports indicate that Pope Francis will be visiting Malta on April 2nd.

According to the reports, which haven’t been confirmed yet by the official Vatican sources, the Pope’s visit confirms the speculation that the country will go for election in March.

Newsbook reports that the Holy See did not wish for the visit to happen in the midst of an electoral campaign. Consequently, it is highly likely that Prime Minister Robert Abela will seek the dissolution of Parliament within a few weeks, so that an election can be held in mid-March.

The Papal visit was originally set to take place on May 2020, but the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to its postponement, as agreed by Malta and the Holy See.

Sources informed Newsbook.com.mt that the possibility of the visit taking place in late 2021 was discussed between the two sides, but a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic saw these plans scrapped.

To date, there has been no official announcement, from the government or from the Church. The 2020 visit had been announced on the Feast of St Paul, on 10 February.