# Ta' Pinu > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ta'_Pinu > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ta'_Pinu.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta'_Pinu > Source revision: 1349462188 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Roman Catholic basilica in Gozo Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Of Ta' Pinu Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu Ta' Pinu in 2020 Religion Affiliation Roman Catholic Diocese Diocese of Gozo Province Archdiocese of Malta Ecclesiastical or organizational status Minor basilica, National Shrine Leadership Fr Gerard Buhagiar [1] Year consecrated 31 August 1932 Location Interactive map of Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Of Ta' Pinu Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu Coordinates 36°3′42.4″N 14°12′53.4″E / 36.061778°N 14.214833°E / 36.061778; 14.214833 Architecture Architect Andrea Vassallo[a] Type Church Style Neo-romanesque Groundbreaking 30 May 1920 (1920-05-30) Specifications Direction of façade ESE Length 49 metres (161 ft) Width 37 metres (121 ft) Width (nave) 14 metres (46 ft) Height (max) 61 metres (200 ft) Website www.tapinu.org View of the interior The **Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu** ([Maltese](/source/Maltese_language): *Santwarju Bażilika tal-Madonna ta' Pinu*) is a [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic) [minor basilica](/source/Minor_basilica) and [national shrine](/source/National_shrine) located some 700 metres (2,300 ft) from the village of [Għarb](/source/G%C4%A7arb) on the island of [Gozo](/source/Gozo), the sister island of [Malta](/source/Malta). [Pope Pius XI](/source/Pope_Pius_XI) granted a Pontifical decree of coronation, *Marianum exstat Sanctuarium* towards its venerated Marian image, the [Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu](/source/Blessed_Virgin_of_Ta'_Pinu) on 24 May 1935. The Archbishop of Tarsus, Cardinal [Alexis Lépicier](/source/Alexis_L%C3%A9picier) signed and the Regent of [Apostolic Dataria](/source/Apostolic_Dataria), Giuseppe Guerri notarized the decree via the [Sacred Congregation of Rites](/source/Sacred_Congregation_of_Rites). The coronation of the image took place on 20 June 1935. ## History The origins of the Shrine of Our Lady of ta' Pinu are unknown. It was first recorded in the archives of the Curia in Gozo, when the Bishop Domenico Cubelles paid a visit to the chapel. This noted that the chapel had just been rebuilt and that it belonged to the noble family of "The Gentile".[3] In 1575 the apostolic visitor [Pietro Dusina](/source/Pietro_Dusina) was delegated by [Pope Gregory XIII](/source/Pope_Gregory_XIII) to visit the Maltese Islands. In his pastoral visit to the church, he found that it was in a very bad state. He ordered the church to be closed and demolished and its duties passed to the parish church, now the [Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Gozo](/source/Cathedral_of_the_Assumption%2C_Victoria). When demolition began the workman broke his arm while striking the first blow. This was taken as an omen that the chapel should not be demolished. The church was the only chapel on the island to survive Dusina's decree ordering the demolition of other similar chapels.[3] Pinu Gauci became the procurator of the church in 1598 and its name was changed from "Of the Gentile" to "Ta` Pinu", meaning "Of Philip". In 1611 Gauci offered money for its restoration. It was rebuilt, with a stone altar erected and investments for liturgical services provided. Gauci also commissioned the painting of the Assumption of Our Lady for the main altar. This was done in 1619 by Amadeo Perugino.[3] In 1883, [Karmni Grima](/source/Karmni_Grima) was walking past the now run down church and heard a voice asking her to recite three "[Hail Marys](/source/Hail_Mary)". Over the following years miracles were attributed to the grace of Our Lady of [The Assumption](/source/The_Assumption) to whom the church was dedicated. Francis Portelli also heard the voice coming from the painting. Francis Merċieċa also known as [Frenċ tal-Għarb](/source/Fren%C4%8B_tal-G%C4%A7arb) was a devout of Our Lady of ta' Pinu and healed a lot of people in her name. Some of the ex-voto in the Ta' Pinu church. The works for the new [church](/source/Church_(building)) began on 30 May 1920 on the initiative of the church's rector Monsignor [Ġużepp Portelli](/source/%C4%A0u%C5%BCepp_Portelli) and was consecrated on 31 August 1932. It was built in a neo-romantic style. Inside the church there are 6 [mosaics](/source/Mosaic), 76 coloured windows and many [ex-voto](/source/Ex-voto). The bell tower is 61 metres high.[3] [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) celebrated mass on the [parvise](/source/Parvise) of the shrine during his visit to the island of [Gozo](/source/Gozo) on 26 May 1990.[4] On 18 April 2010, when visiting [Malta](/source/Malta), [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) donated and placed a [Golden Rose](/source/Golden_Rose) in front of the devotional image of Our Lady Of Ta' Pinu which was brought over from [Gozo](/source/Gozo) to [Malta](/source/Malta) for this special occasion. The Pope invited everybody to pray to Mary under the title "Queen of the Family".[5] On 2 April 2022, after visiting the Chapel of Our Lady and praying there in silence, Pope Francis presided at a Prayer Meeting on the parvis of the church.[6][7] The church building is listed on the [National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands](/source/National_Inventory_of_the_Cultural_Property_of_the_Maltese_Islands).[8] ## 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) - [Religion in Malta](/source/Religion_in_Malta) ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Completed by Godwin Galizia[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Web page of the Gozo Diocese](http://gozodiocese.org/churches/national-sanctuary/) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Scientia journal](https://web.archive.org/web/20160417211859/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Scientia%20(Malta)/Scientia.%2008(1942)4(Oct.-Dec.)/01.pdf) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-History_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-History_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-History_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-History_4-3) ["History of Ta' Pinu Sanctuary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100227215323/http://tapinu.org/history/history.html). Archived from [the original](http://tapinu.org/history/history.html) on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-07-21. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["26 May 1990, Eucharistic celebration at the Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu in the island of Gozo | John Paul II"](https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1990/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19900526_gozo_en.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["ZENIT - Our Lady of Ta? Pinu"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100507164244/http://www.zenit.org/article-28949?l=english). Archived from [the original](http://www.zenit.org/article-28949?l=english) on 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Watch: Arriving in Gozo by catamaran, the Pope prays at the Marian shrine, Ta' Pinu"](https://aleteia.org/2022/04/02/watch-arriving-in-gozo-by-catamaran-the-pope-prays-at-the-marian-shrine-ta-pinu/). *Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture*. 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2022-09-11. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Agius, Monique (2022-04-30). ["Pope Francis speaks about spiritual yearning felt at Ta' Pinu in letter to Bishop Teuma"](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/pope-francis-speaks-about-spiritual-yearning-felt-at-ta-pinu-in-letter-to-bishop-teuma/). *Newsbook*. Retrieved 2022-09-11. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Ta' Pinu Sanctuary"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061137/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00972.pdf) (PDF). *National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands*. 27 August 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00972.pdf) (PDF) on December 8, 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015. ## External links - [Official site](http://www.tapinu.org) - [Diocese of Gozo - National Sanctuary](http://gozodiocese.org/churches/national-sanctuary/) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ta' Pinu Shrine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ta%27_Pinu_Shrine). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ta' Pinu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta'_Pinu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta'_Pinu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.