Malta’s story reaches the Vatican as Opus book is presented to Pope Leo XIV
Collector’s edition chronicling Malta’s history and culture is first to be dedicated to an entire country
The story of Malta has now found its place within the Vatican library after a copy of the Malta Opus was presented to the Pope earlier this week.
The Malta Opus is a large format collector’s edition publication featuring exclusive interviews, photos and archival material that brings together the “definitive and enduring collection of the essence of Malta”.
The book is the first in luxury publisher Opus’s collection to commemorate an entire country. It was the brainchild of Daniel Cuschieri who managed to convince the publishing house’s CEO Karl Fowler to depart from its usual subjects on sports and celebrities and dedicate an entire publication to one country.
“We have more history per square metre than Rome,” Cuschieri famously told Fowler as he made his case for a Malta-specific publication.
Prof. Victor Grech was tasked with writing and editing the mammoth publication which traces the story of Malta from prehistory to the modern age touching on every aspect of the archipelago including culture, cuisine, the festa, St Paul, Catholicism, the churches, Valletta, the Three Cities, and the sea, among a plethora of topics.
“The book defines Malta and what it means to be Maltese,” Grech said in a recent interview.
“I was honoured to be asked to create an Opus about my own country and I look forward to creating more stories about my lovely country.”
Work on the project started in September 2024. It features exclusive interviews with the President of Malta, the Prime Minister, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, international opera star Joseph Calleja, among others.
It touches on anything Maltese including the Maltese dog, Maltese bread and the Maltese clock and highlights threatened traditions such as the patterned cement tiles and the sikkina ta’ l-Għarb which is only made by one man in Gozo these days.
The publication tapped into archives from various sources including the Times of Malta. The project was the result of collaboration between government entities, the Malta Council for the Arts, National Celebrations Festivals, and MCAST, along with contributions from experts like architect James Bonnici Camilleri and Daniel Zahra.
The Malta Opus is the largest book ever created to celebrate a country. The marquee edition weighs a whopping 38kgs and comes in a variety of finishes including one which is covered in 10,000 Swarovski crystals featuring a sterling silver Maltese cross while another is bound in real leather. The first edition was auctioned by Christies in aid of three charities.
The one presented to Pope Leo XIV earlier this week was a slightly more manageable smaller format.
A 50-page version is freely accessible in electronic format.
During their visit to the Vatican, Grech and Cuschieri met members of the Papal household to discuss a number of collaborations and were invited to the general audience held in St Peter’s Square.
The book, in its presentation case, was presented to the Pope at the end of the general audience.
Cuschieri said that presenting the book to the Pope was a moment of “immense pride”.
“I believe whoever gets to experience this body of work, just like our collectors, will appreciate the story and work that has gone into such an Opus,” he said.
“It is not an everyday opportunity that one gets to meet the Pope and be able to see one of our Opus editions find a home within the Vatican library”.