# Diocese of Gozo > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Diocese_of_Gozo > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Diocese_of_Gozo.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Gozo > Source revision: 1349455254 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Diocese of the Catholic Church This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Diocese of Gozo" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Diocese of Gozo Dioecesis Gaudisiensis Djoċesi ta' Għawdex Location Country Malta Gozo Territory Gozo and Comino Ecclesiastical province Malta Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malta Statistics Area 67 km2 (26 sq mi) Population Total Catholics (as of 2023) 37,392 34,656 (92.7%) Parishes 15 Churches 48 Information Denomination Catholic Sui iuris church Latin Church Rite Roman Rite Established 22 September 1864 Cathedral Cathedral of the Assumption Patron saint Saint George Saint Ursula Current leadership Pope Leo XIV Bishop Anton Teuma Metropolitan Archbishop Charles Scicluna Vicar General Tarcisio Camilleri Judicial Vicar Joe Zammit Bishops emeritus Mario Cardinal Grech Map The Diocese of Gozo marked in red. Website gozodiocese.org The **Diocese of Gozo** ([Latin](/source/Latin_language): *Dioecesis Goulos-Gaudisiensis*; [Maltese](/source/Maltese_language): *Djoċesi ta' Għawdex*)[1] is a Latin [diocese](/source/Diocese) of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) in [Malta](/source/Malta), and the only [suffragan](/source/Suffragan) in the [ecclesiastical province](/source/Ecclesiastical_province) of the Metropolitan [Archdiocese of Malta](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Malta), together covering the insular state. The [diocese](/source/Diocese) comprises the island of [Gozo](/source/Gozo) (seventeen miles west of the Maltese capital [Valletta](/source/Valletta)) and the islet of [Comino](/source/Comino).[2] ## History Information regarding the origins of the first formal Christian communities in Gozo is lost to time. The oldest of the active parish churches in Gozo are those of Victoria: the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Basilica of St George. Which of these two is the oldest is not quite clear and often disputed. However both probably originated during the Byzantine occupation of Gozo. Up till the year 1864, Gozo formed part of the then [Roman Catholic Diocese of Malta](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Malta), but Pope [Pius IX](/source/Pius_IX), acceding to requests by the clergy and the people, erected it into a separate, then [exempt](/source/Exemption_(church)) diocese, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See. On 16 March 1863, [Michael Franciscus Buttigieg](/source/Michael_Franciscus_Buttigieg), a native of Gozo, was appointed [titular Bishop](/source/Titular_Bishop) of Lita and deputy auxiliary of the Archbishop-Bishop of Malta, for the Island of Gozo. He was consecrated at Rome on 3 May of the same year, on 22 September 1864, was created first bishop of the new Diocese of Gozo, and on the 23rd day of the following month made his entry into the new cathedral. Through the efforts of Pietro Pace, [vicar-general](/source/Vicar-general) of the diocese, a diocesan seminary was established on the site formerly occupied by the San Giuliano Hospital, the revenues of which were appropriated to the new institution. This seminary was inaugurated 3 November 1866, and by the express desire of Pius IX placed under the direction of the [Jesuits](/source/Jesuits). On the death of Buttigieg, [Paolo Micallef](/source/Paolo_Micallef), [Superior General](/source/Superior_General) of the Augustinian Order, was made [Bishop of Città di Castello](/source/Bishop_of_Citt%C3%A0_di_Castello) and appointed administrator of the Diocese of Gozo. He left Gozo in May, 1867, and in 1871 became [Archbishop of Pisa](/source/Archbishop_of_Pisa). His successor to the administration of the diocese was [Antonius Grech Delicata Testaferrata](/source/Antonius_Grech_Delicata_Testaferrata), [titular Bishop of Chalcedon](/source/Titular_Bishop_of_Chalcedon), a native of Malta, who in 1868 was appointed Bishop of Gozo, and as such assisted at the [First Vatican Council](/source/First_Vatican_Council). Grech Delicata's divested himself of his own patrimony in favour of the poor; he died on the last day of 1876. On 12 March 1877, Pietro Pace, native of Gozo, was appointed to succeed Grech Delicata, and was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal [Edward Henry Howard](/source/Edward_Henry_Howard). Under his administration the seminary was augmented by the installation of a meteorological [observatory](/source/Observatory), which was inaugurated by Padre Denza, director of the [Vatican Observatory](/source/Vatican_Observatory). During this administration an episcopal educational institute for girls was also established, under the care of the [Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul](/source/Sisters_of_St._Vincent_de_Paul), to whom was also entrusted the direction of the annexed orphan asylum. The same bishop provided the diocese with a new episcopal palace and new monasteries, besides laying out large sums of money on the cathedral. In 1889 Pace was promoted Archbishop of [Rhodes](/source/Rhodes) and [Bishop of Malta](/source/Bishop_of_Malta). His successor in the See of Gozo was G. M. Camilleri, a native of [Valletta](/source/Valletta) (b. 15 March 1842). Under Camilleri's administration the first diocesan synod was celebrated, in October, 1903. This synod was necessary as the diocese was still governed under the outdated rules of the Synod of Malta of 1703. Constitutions and decrees were also promulgated and published. In May 1990, it was visited by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II). ## Bishops of Gozo Name from to Notes 1 Michael Franciscus Buttigieg (1864-1866) 1864 1866 Paolo Micallef, Administrator of Gozo 1866 1867 Administrator of Gozo 2 Antonius Grech Delicata Testaferrata 1868 1876 3 Pietro Pace 1877 1889 Became Bishop of Malta 4 Giovanni Maria Camilleri 1889 1924 5 Mikiel Gonzi (1924-1943) 1924 1943 Became Coadjutor Bishop of Malta, Bishop of Malta, and subsequently Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta 6 Giuseppe Pace 1944 1972 Nikol Joseph Cauchi, Administrator of Gozo 1967 1972 Administrator of Gozo 7 Nikol Joseph Cauchi 1972 2006 8 Mario Grech 2006 2019 Became Pro-secretary of the Synod of Bishops Mario Grech 2019 2020 Administrator of Gozo 9 Anton Teuma 2020 - ## Special churches Cathedral of the Assumption - Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in [Victoria](/source/Victoria%2C_Gozo) - The cathedral church of Gozo was built in 1697–1703, by Lorenzo Gafa. Its ground plan is in the form of a Latin cross. The cathedral is also the annual pilgrimage site of the Grand Priory of the Mediterranean of the [Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem](/source/Hospitaller_Order_of_Saint_Lazarus_of_Jerusalem). Its interior is adorned with fine paintings. The "Messagiere di Maria", an Italian periodical, is recognized in the Diocese of Gozo as the official organ of the sanctuary of the [Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu](/source/Blessed_Virgin_of_Ta'_Pinu). - [Basilica and Collegiate Parish of St George](/source/St_George's_Basilica%2C_Victoria) in [Victoria](/source/Victoria%2C_Gozo) - [Rotunda of Xewkija](/source/Rotunda_of_Xewkija) in [Xewkija](/source/Xewkija) - [Basilica and National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu](/source/Ta'_Pinu) in [Għarb](/source/G%C4%A7arb) - [Basilica and Collegiate Parish of the Visitation in Għarb](/source/Basilica_of_the_Visitation%2C_G%C4%A7arb) - Basilica and Collegiate Parish of St Peter and St Paul in [Nadur](/source/Nadur) - Basilica and Collegiate Parish of the Nativity of Mary in [Xagħra](/source/Xag%C4%A7ra) ## Important dates - 23 April: Memorial of St George - Patron Saint of the Diocese - 22 June: Feast of the [Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu](/source/Blessed_Virgin_of_Ta'_Pinu) - 15 August: Solemnity of the [Assumption of Mary](/source/Assumption_of_Mary) - Patroness of the Maltese Archipelago and of the Gozo Diocese - 16 September: Anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese - 11 October: Dedication of the Diocesan Cathedral - 21 October: Memorial of [Saint Ursula](/source/Saint_Ursula) - Patron Saint of the Diocese ## Parishes Parish Location Date established Saint George's Victoria pre-1250 Parish of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Gozo Victoria pre-1241 Sacred Heart of Jesus Fontana 27 March 1911 Our Lady of Loreto Għajnsielem 26 January 1855 Parish of the Visitation of Our Lady Għarb 29 August 1679 Corpus Christi Parish Għasri 16 December 1921 Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and St Gregory the Great Kerċem 10 March 1885 Parish of Saint Paul's Shipwreck Munxar 12 December 1957 Parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Nadur 28 April 1688 Parish of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Joseph Qala 3 February 1872 Saint Laurence's San Lawrenz 15 March 1893 Saint Margaret's Sannat 28 April 1688 Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady Xagħra 28 April 1688 Parish of Saint John the Baptist Xewkija 27 November 1678 Parish of the Assumption of Mary Żebbuġ, Gozo 28 April 1688 ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Diocese of Gozo](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dgozo.html) - from [Catholic Hierarchy](/source/Catholic_Hierarchy)[*[self-published source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). ["Gozo"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06687b.htm). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. New York: Robert Appleton Company. ## Sources and external links - [Gozo Diocese own site](http://gozodiocese.org/) - [GigaCatholic with incumbent biography links](http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/gozo0.htm) ## See also - [Catholicism portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Catholicism) - [History portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:History) - [Malta portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Malta) - [Culture of Malta](/source/Culture_of_Malta) - [History of Malta](/source/History_of_Malta) - [List of Churches in Malta](/source/List_of_Churches_in_Malta) - [List of monasteries and convents in Malta](/source/List_of_monasteries_and_convents_in_Malta) - [Religion in Malta](/source/Religion_in_Malta) [36°02′47″N 14°14′23″E / 36.04639°N 14.23972°E / 36.04639; 14.23972](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Diocese_of_Gozo¶ms=36_02_47_N_14_14_23_E_region:MT_source:kolossus-frwiki) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Diocese of Gozo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Gozo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Gozo?action=history)). 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