€5 Million Restoration Breathes New Life Into Valletta’s Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church in Valletta, one of the most important jewels of Malta’s cultural and religious heritage, has been brought back to life following extensive restoration works, which have now…

The Jesuit Church in Valletta, one of the most important jewels of Malta’s cultural and religious heritage, has been brought back to life following extensive restoration works, which have now been completed.

This historic site will reopen to the public at the end of this week, with a special Mass on Friday at 6.00pm. The public may attend in person or follow the service live on TVM+.

“The restoration works confirm our ongoing commitment not only to preserving our national heritage, but also to ensuring that it can be enjoyed by today’s and future generations. Investment in the cultural sector reflects the country’s economic success and strengthens our collective memory and national identity,” The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, stated.

“The Jesuit Church remains a powerful symbol of Malta’s cultural and religious history. This is a new chapter that shows how, through collective effort, we can protect the past while building a future worthy of the generations to come,” Minister Bonnici concluded.

“The reopening of the Jesuit Church marks the completion of the first phase of one of the most ambitious ecclesiastical conservation projects undertaken in Malta in recent years. This is not simply the restoration of a historic monument, but a targeted effort to recover the legibility of this complex at the heart of our Capital as a living space, where architecture, art, faith and holistic formation once again speak coherently. Built on rigorous research, interdisciplinary collaboration and respect for historical stratification, this project reaffirms the Jesuit Church as a place that expresses Maltese identity, the cultural memory of our people and cooperation between Church and State in safeguarding our patrimonial heritage – restored not as a museum, but as a sacred space capable of continuing to inspire, engage and provide space for the talents of today’s and tomorrow’s generations,” The Rector of the Church, the Reverend Dr Nicholas Joseph Doublet, said.

The works included the restoration of walls and ceilings, repairs to stonework and balustrades, restoration of windows, polishing of the marble flooring, modernisation of electrical systems and the introduction of modern security systems.

A total of €5 million was invested from national funds. This also covered the restoration of the oratories, roof, dome, chapels, bell tower and church façades.

The restoration project was the responsibility of the Department for Restoration and Preservation.

In 2021, a dedicated foundation was set up to manage this historic site, ensuring that the church remains not only a monument, but a living space serving the community and the country.

The additional contribution of several private sponsors was also acknowledged, including Bank of Valletta, MAPFRE Middlesea, the Alfred Mizzi Foundation and Tumas Group, as well as public cultural entities such as the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Heritage Malta and Arts Council Malta.

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