Mass said in 16th century chapel after 40 years

An inaugural Mass at the Cappella D'Italia in St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, was celebrated yesterday evening after a break of at least 40 years.

The chapel of Italy, restored thanks to Italian protocol funds, was reopened last December following more than two years of restoration work worth over €500,000 forked out by the Italian and Maltese governments.

Mass was celebrated by the chaplain of the Italian community in Malta, Fr Gino Gauci, for a congregation made up of Maltese and Italians including Ambassador Alvise Memmo.

Fr Gauci told The Times the Eucharist had probably not been celebrated in the chapel for some 40 years.

"Several Masses used to be celebrated inside the different chapels of St John's but this practice was stopped after Vatican Council II in 1965. That must have been the last time Mass was said inside the chapel," Fr Gauci said.

Built in 1578, the chapel of Italy includes a work by Mattia Preti, showing the mystic marriage of St Catherine of Alexandria.

The altar was designed by Romano Carapecchia and Ciro Ferri designed the tomb of Rafael Cotoner.