Ilkoll aħwa fi Kristu, written by Charles Buttigieg, recounts Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca’s memoirs. The book mentions the three Maltese candidates beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 9, 2001. I’d like to clarify that the exhumation of the remains of Adeodata Pisani took place on February 6, 1991 and not as Buttigieg wrote on May 4, 2001.

It was my late husband, Arthur Barbaro-Sant, who, as coordinator appointed by the Benedictine community to take responsibility for Pisani’s canonisation cause, discussed with forensic expert Anthony Abela Medici the possibility of treating the remains with a durable substance. In fact, the remains were treated with a formula specifically brought over from Australia.

I would also like to point out that my late husband advised Mgr Beneditt Camilleri and the late Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi to treat the remains of Frenċ tal-Għarb with resin.

They gladly accepted and invited my husband and myself to witness the procedure and also to sign the relative document, which was later sealed with the remains.

Information missing from Blessed Adeodata’s recount, but which was included in that of Dun Ġorġ Preca and Nazju Falzon, were the names of the postulator, Prof. Fr Ernesto Piacentini, who represented the cause in Rome, and the name of coordinator Arthur Barbaro-Sant, who tirelessly and with great determination spread the devotion around Malta and Gozo until the cause finally and successfully reached beatification stage.

It is a pity that Buttigieg eliminated such information because it was during Mercieca’s term of office that the beatification of the three Maltese candidates took place.

I’m giving this information, as I feel it my duty, due to my involvement in the process at the time, as a sign of respect to Mercieca, who always encouraged and blessed us during the nine years we worked wholeheartedly for the cause, and because I believe the book deserves to include the correct information.

The process which led to Adeodata Pisani’s beatification can be found in the book Siltiet mill-Imgħoddi ta’ Ħajti, which I wrote three years ago.