The XXIV Eucharistic Congress in Malta was presided over by Cardinal Domenico Ferrata, the Prefect of the Congregation of the Sacraments, as the Papal Legate. Of interest, the British press expressed disapproval that Cardinal Bourne, the Archbishop of Westminster, wasn’t nominated as the Papal Legate.
Five Cardinals and 52 Bishops attended the event, including clergy from Australia and New Zealand.
The Congress began with a grand procession and included ceremonies such as blessing the sea with the Sacrament.
Thousands of people were on the Valletta Bastions and all along the way the Cardinal had to take to St John’s Co-Cathedral. His caleche started on its way to Sarria Church in Floriana. At Sarria Chruch the Vilhena Band played the Papal Anthem and a choir sang a new hymn by Mro. Giuseppe Caruana and Fr P. Vella. Then the Archbishop Bishop Pietro Pace welcomed the Cardinal. Judge G. Pullicino also welcomed him in the name of the people of Malta. The Cardinal walked in a procession to St John’s Co-Cathedral from Sarria via Kingsgate and Kingsway under a baldacchino carried by members of the Maltese Nobility. The religious priests, brothers and nuns of Malta led the procession and the University students formed a guard of honour. The Prince of Wales Band, the King’s Own Band and the La Valette Band played along the way. Arriving at the Co-Cathedral the Cardinal led the prayer for the Congress and then he was escorted to the Bishop’s Palace.
Facebook page of the 1913 Congress
And he also gave a speech in Valletta welcoming Cardinal Ferrata, to which the Papal Legate responded.
The senior Maltese organiser was Archbishop Bishop Pietro Pace, who was the Archbishop of Rhodes and Bishop of Malta. He also held a military rank in the British army and was honoured with a K.C.V.O. by King Edward during his 1909 visit to Malta. As Bishop Pace was 82 years old, he was ably assisted by Aux. Bishop Angelo Portelli.
In 1947, Albert Ganado wrote:
In recognition of his valuable services in connection with the International Eucharistic Congress held in Malta in 1913, Judge Pullicino was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory. This high honour conferred upon him by the saintly Pope Pius X, he richly deserved. Prompted by his deep Christian piety and religious zeal, he had eagerly accepted Mgr. Pace’s invitation to be a member of both the General and the Executive Committees on the occasion of the Congress.
Ganado, A. (1947). Judge Giovanni Pullicino. The Law Journal, 2(2), 60-68.
