Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta

The Archdiocese of Malta (Latin: Archidioecesis Melitensis o Melevitana ) is an Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Malta.

History

The diocese was probably founded after the reconquest of the island by Belisarius, 533. The first known Bishop Julian has 553 signed as a witness in Constantinople Opel adopting the Pope Vigilius on the three chapters. We know from the Register of Gregory the Great Some successor. There they are counted among the bishops of Sicily. The Greek Notitiae episcopatuum make Malta ( ό Μελίτης, Μελέτη ) also to the province of Sicily. The occupation of the islands by the Saracens led to an extensive destruction of Christianity. The conquest by Roger I of Sicily was followed initially no re-establishment of the diocese, especially as far as the 13th century the population was Muslim majority. 1156 the diocese Malta became part of the Archdiocese of Palermo as suffragan by Adrian IV. We know the names is under King William II of Bishop John.

1530, the administration of the diocese was transferred to the Knights of St. John, who continued the tradition of the Archbishop of Rhodes. 1797 united Pius VI. the Diocese of Malta with the Archdiocese of Rhodes, but it remained suffragan of Palermo. 1831 was placed directly under the Holy See and applicable on 1 January 1944 at the rank of archdiocese. The Archbishop of Malta has his residence in Valletta. The Cathedral in Mdina is dedicated to the Mother of God and the Apostle Paul, the legendary founder of the diocese.