At the beginning of last month we knew that Pope John Paul II was very ill and no one really knew how much longer he would live. As it happened he died on the 2nd of April. And now we have a new pope. The three-week period between popes will forever be remembered in history, and we at aboutmalta.com are pleased to be doing our part in bringing a Maltese perspective on the papacy.

When I was a little boy it used to be that May was dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of Jesus, and so Mother's Day was a fitting climax for the month. Perhaps times have changed, or I just grew older. Still, after last year, some people could go as far as believing that May will now also be remembered for Malta's accession to the EU. Somehow, I think that for better or for worse the Eurovision Song Contest will be the topic on most people's minds unless something more spectacular occurs this month.

As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or questions about anything you see (or would like to see) on aboutmalta.com. Your feedback warms our hearts, especially when it comes in the form of a passionate message about something you think we should be doing differently.

Toni Sant
Consulting Editor, aboutmalta.com

P.S. To subscribe to this newsletter just contact us.

1. Last Month's Daily News from MaltaMedia
2. Top Picks:
     a. The Papacy from a Maltese Perspective
     b. Mother's Day E-Cards
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Two men die in separate accidents
02 Pope John Paul II has died
03 Maltese government declares national mourning
04 Man sentenced to 31 years behind bars for double murder
05 Mass in memory of Pope John Paul II
06 Increase in full-time employment rate
07 Malta to retain Objective One status
08 Pope's funeral marked across Malta
09 European Court decides on Meinrad Calleja complaint
10 Chiara continues promotional tour
11 Another dead body found
12 Police seize 6,000 counterfeit objects
13 Autopsy shows Simon Grech was murdered
14 Greenpeace demands clean ship dismantling
15 Increase in outbound travelling trends
16 Industrial zones to host safety at work campaign
17 Dutch delegation places 'Angel' video ninth
18 Illegal immigrants to be sent back home
19 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is Pope Benedict XVI
20 “Benedict XVI open for dialogue”-Maltese Archbishop
21 Malta’s deadline to discard excess sugar extended
22 Four arraigned over illegal trafficking of persons
23 Malta opposes proposal on truck tolls in the EU
24 Russia to settle debts with Malta by 2005
25 Toni Sant's Blog one year on
26 Zarb Adami’s discrimination case at European Court
27 Government to sell part of MIA shares
28 Customs seize cannabis at MIA
29 Customs intercept stolen luxurious cars
30 Three Police officers injured in Mellieha fight

Read and/or listen to the latest daily news from MaltaMedia.com.

a. The Papacy from a Maltese Perspective

In marking the end of Pope John Paul's era and the beginning of Benedict XVI's pontificate, the MaltaMedia Online Network sheds some light on the long-term relationship between Catholic Malta and the Holy Father, the head of a church that holds around one billion faithful worldwide.

b. Mother's Day E-Cards

The MaltaMedia Online Network, of which aboutmalta.com is an integral part, is once again offering free Mother's Day e-cards designed by Maltese artists Gattaldo, Francis Camilleri and Paul Mizzi. These e-cards make for a truly unique greeting on Mother's Day, which this year is celebrated on Sunday the 8th of May.

30 YEARS AGO (2 May 1975)
New street names are announced in line with Malta's new political identity after the adoption of the 1974 Constitution of the Republic. New names include Republic Street (formerly King's Way or Strada Reale) and City Gate (formerly King's Gate or Porta Reale) in Valletta.

20 YEARS AGO (5 May 1985)
Monument to Anton Buttigieg, second President of Malta and poet, unveiled in Blata-l-Bajda on the second anniversary of his death. The monument in bronze with a base of Malta stone by sculptor Anton Agius, shows a life-size figure of Dr. Buttigieg sitting thoughtfully with pen in hand facing Hamrun where this Gozitan man lived for many years.

10 YEARS AGO (19 May 1995)
Church newpaper Il-Gens claims that former Health Minister Dr. Vincent Moran is referring patients for abortions in Sicily. This leads to his eventual withdrawal from public life.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
6 May 1949: Ninette Micallef, Actress/Teacher
18 May 1949: Vanni Pule, Magician/Entertainer
21 May 1961: Ray Mercieca, Singer with The Characters and The Rifffs
25 May 1933: Joe Micallef Stafrace, Lawyer/Politician

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
10 May 1998: Oreste Kirkop, Tenor, dies at 75
13 May 1987: Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi, Founder "Dar tal-Providenza", dies at 77
19 May 1967: Frenc Mercieca (Frenc ta'l-Gharb), Faith Healer, dies at 75
25 May 1922: Karmni Grima, Saintly Woman associated with Ta' Pinu, dies at 84

See aboutmalta.com's daily full list of birthdays, deaths, and events in Maltese history.

Today in Maltese History is produced exclusively for aboutmalta.com by Mario Axiaq.

7 May 2005
Car Boot Sale
Fundraising Activity at Razzett tal-Hbiberija in Marsascala for seven volunteers from Third World Group who will be working in Ethiopia next summer.

7 May 2005
2AM - the Alternative Malta Party
The cool dudes of Alternative Malta are throwing their second party since Xmas eve at the NAAFI Bar in Valletta.

12-31 May 2005
Four Figure Tables
Bernard Bonnici, Rupert Cefai, and Gordon Pace Flores have come together to exhibit a collection of their different work: photography, paintings, and calligraphy based on a theme from a subtitle in the mathematical book Four Figure Tables, at the Manoel Theatre Café in Valletta.

29 May - 4 June 2005
25th International FECC Convention
Carnival festival with the participation of German, Portuguese, Italian and local artists; mostly in Nadur but also in other parts of Gozo and Malta.

View aboutmalta.com's full calendar for this month's events in Malta and Gozo, or to submit a future event to our calendar.