Franciscan priest Firas Lutfi, who is head of the monastery of St Anthony of Padua and lecturer and director at the Centre of Profound Theological Studies in Aleppo, visited Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.
Fr Lutfi, who was accompanied by Aid to the Church in Need (Malta) national director Stephen Axisa, was taken round the sanctuary by the rector Fr Gerard Buhagiar.
Fr Buhagiar was presented with a copy of the report Persecuted and Forgotten? A report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2015-2017, published by ACN (Malta), while Fr Lutfi was presented with a copy of the book A Temple to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu Basilica by Fr Gerard.
Fr Lutfi celebrated Mass, together with archpriest Carmelo Refalo, at Marija Bambina basilica in Xagħra.
Fr Lutfi was in Malta where he was the keynote speaker at the launch of Persecuted and Forgotten?