World War II: Malta’s hope against all hopes

Malta’s role in World War II was both strategic and heroic. At the very heart of the Mediterranean, the archipelago was vital to the Allied forces, disrupting Axis supply lines to North Africa. This position made Malta a target of relentless bombing and near starvation, but the Maltese people endured, their resilience rooted in their ancient Christian hope. Through trials that tested the limits of human endurance, the Maltese turned to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, finding courage and hope in miraculous ways.

In 1942, Malta was under siege. Axis blockades and bombings had left the archipelago on the brink of surrender. Food, fuel, and medical supplies were nearly depleted, and the British governor had no choice but to prepare for capitulation. The Allies launched Operation Pedestal, a last-ditch effort to deliver vital supplies to the island.

The convoy faced overwhelming odds. Out of 14 ships, only five reached Malta, limping into Grand Harbour on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among them was the oil tanker SS Ohio, barely afloat after withstanding multiple attacks. The arrival of the convoy was hailed as a miracle, and the people attributed their survival to the intercession of Santa Marija, their beloved patroness.

This miraculous event became known as “Il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija” – literally St. Mary’s Convoy, Santa Marija being an abbreviation of Santa Marija Assunta, Maltese the Assumption of Saint Mary). For the starving population, it was more than a military victory; it was a sign of divine protection that echoed that of their miraculous victory during the Great Siege of 1565, when the island’s defenders, numbered just 6,000, defeated an Ottoman armada of over 200 warships carrying 30,000 soldiers.

Decades after the arrival of St. Mary’s Convoy, the image of the SS Ohio being towed into the harbor still remains an enduring symbol of faith and hope.

Faith again took center stage in April 1942, when the Rotunda of Mosta, a massive church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, became the site of another miracle. The church, one of Malta’s most iconic landmarks, was crowded with 300 people in prayer during an air raid. A 500-kilogram bomb (1,100 pounds) pierced the massive dome and crashed into the nave, but it did not explode.

The bomb, along with three smaller ones that also struck the church, caused no casualties. While the damage was significant, the people inside the church emerged unscathed, an outcome they credited, again, to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To this day, the unexploded bomb is displayed in the church as a testament to what the locals consider divine intervention.

It is no wonder that Malta is home to some of the world’s most unique Marian pilgrimage routes. Take, for example, the Camino Mariæ Melitensis. The 60-kilometer (37-mile) route from Castrum Maris to Mellieha, created by XirCammini in collaboration with VisitMalta, has woven together some of the most significative landmarks of Malta’s rich Marian devotion. Information to assist the pilgrim and get the camino credencial are available on the dedicated website or on XirCammini’s generic website.

Bormla’s parish church, located near the bomb-targeted dockyards, also faced immense peril. To protect its treasures, including the titular statue of the Immaculate Conception, they were relocated to St. Helen’s Basilica in Birkirkara. A vow was made: if the church was spared, a pilgrimage would return the sacred items. Remarkably, though over 200 bombs struck nearby, the church survived intact. On November 19, 1944, the statue and altarpiece were triumphantly restored to Cospicua in what became the National Pilgrimage of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated as a miraculous testament to divine intervention and enduring faith.

Indeed, Marian devotion is at the core of Bormla’s rich Christian heritage. The Nativity of Jesus Church, dating back to the 7th century, is among its earliest sites, linked to an 8th-9th century Byzantine icon of the Theotokos. This icon, portraying the Virgin Mary as the bearer of God, helped shape a legacy of Marian veneration that grew through the centuries with devotions such as Our Lady of Sailors and Our Lady of Rescue. It is no coincidence that tradition also holds that St. Paul departed Malta from Bormla’s shores, a fact substantiated by Dr. John Vella through the analysis of toponyms, biblical texts, and maritime evidence. A commemorative church was built on the departure site, affirming Bormla’s historic role as Malta’s primary harbor from antiquity to the 16th century.

During the war, Malta endured more than 3,000 air raids, with bombs falling day and night. In fact, the island became the most heavily bombed place on Earth. Despite the devastation, the people’s faith never wavered. They turned to prayer, placing their trust in God and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

In recognition of Malta’s bravery and resilience, King George VI awarded the archipelago the George Cross in 1942, declaring it a tribute to the “heroism and devotion of its people.” However, for the Maltese, their ultimate gratitude belonged to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The events of the war only deepened their Marian devotion, and the Assumption of Mary continues to be the island’s most beloved feast.

The stories of the Santa Marija Convoy and the miracle at Mosta Dome serve as powerful reminders of hope’s ability to sustain and transform. Even amid the horrors of war, the people of Malta found courage through their unwavering trust in God’s providence and Mary’s intercession. For Malta, the war was not only a struggle for survival but also a testament to the enduring strength of their Christian heritage. Their courage and faith remain an inspiration, a legacy of hope for all who face trials today.

This Jubilee Year, renew your hope by going on a pilgrimage to Malta. Answer the call to pilgrimage and discover how hope lives on in Malta today.

This content has been brought to you in partnership with VisitMalta