Editing Malta (section)

===Religion===
{{Main |Religion in Malta}}
{{Further |History of the Jews in Malta|Christianity in Malta|Islam in Malta}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Malta (2021 census)<ref name="2021 census-2">{{Cite web|url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/2023/Census%20of%20Population%202021%20volume1-final.pdf|title=Census of Population and Housing 2021 Final report: Religious Affiliation, pages 159-168|website=nso.gov.mt|archive-date=19 February 2023|access-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219094017/https://nso.gov.mt/en/nso/Media/Salient-Points-of-Publications/Documents/2023/Census%20of%20Population%202021%20volume1-final.pdf}}</ref><ref name="Census statistics"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/121338/census_2021_maltese_citizens_overwhelmingly_identify_as_roman_catholics#.Y_aUpXbP02w|title=Census 2021: Maltese citizens overwhelmingly identify as Roman Catholics|website=maltatoday.com.mt|language=en|access-date=22 February 2023|archive-date=22 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222221916/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/121338/census_2021_maltese_citizens_overwhelmingly_identify_as_roman_catholics#.Y_aUpXbP02w|url-status=live}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Catholic Church]]
|value1 = 82.6
|color1 = Dodgerblue
|label2 = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]]
|value2 = 3.6
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = [[Church of England]]
|value3 = 1.3
|color3 = red
|label4 = Other [[Protestantism]]
|value4 = 1
|color4 = Purple
|label5 = [[Islam]]
|value5 = 3.9
|color5 = Green
|label6 = [[Hinduism]]
|value6 = 1.4
|color6 = Orange
|label7 = [[Buddhism]]
|value7 = 0.5
|color7 = DeepSkyBlue
|label8 = Judaism
|value8 = 0.3
|color8 = yellow
|label9 = Other religious groups 
|value9 = 0.04
|color9 = black
|label10 = No religion
|value10 = 5.1
|color10 = mint
}}

The predominant religion in Malta is Catholicism. The second article of the [[Constitution of Malta]] establishes Catholicism as the [[state religion]] and it is also reflected in various elements of [[Culture of Malta|Maltese culture]], although there are [[Entrenched clause|entrenched provisions]] for the freedom of religion.<ref name="constitution" /> There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese: ''"il-parroċċa"'', or ''"il-knisja parrokkjali"'') is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village.

Malta is an [[Apostolic See]]; the [[Acts of the Apostles]] ([[Acts 28]]) tells of how [[Paul of Tarsus|St. Paul]] was shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Biblical scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60.<ref name="doi.gov.mt">{{Cite web |date=3 March 2008 |title=Department of Information |url=http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125021207/http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/islands/dates.asp |archive-date=25 November 2009 |access-date=2 August 2008 |website=Doi.gov.mt}}</ref> [[Saint Publius]] is said to have been made Malta's first bishop. Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears in [[catacombs]] that lie beneath various sites around Malta, including [[St. Paul's Catacombs]]. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto at [[Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa|Mellieħa]], which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend, [[St. Luke]] painted a picture of the [[Virgin Mary]]. It has been a place of pilgrimage since the medieval period.

For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to the [[Diocese of Palermo]], except when it was under [[Charles of Anjou]], who appointed bishops for Malta, as did&nbsp;– on rare occasions&nbsp;– the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 all [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta#Bishops of Malta|bishops of Malta]] have been Maltese. The patron saints of Malta are [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]], [[Saint Publius]], and [[Saint Agatha]]. Although not a patron saint, [[George Preca|St George Preca]] (San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the first canonised Maltese saint. Various Catholic religious orders are present in Malta, including the [[Jesuits]], [[Franciscans]], [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]], [[Carmelites]] and [[Little Sisters of the Poor]].

There exists a considerable minority of [[Eastern Orthodox Christians]] in Malta, of which there are 16,457, according to the 2021 census;<ref>{{cite report |url=https://nso.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/Census-of-Population-2021-volume1-final.pdf  |title=Census of Population and Housing 2021: Final Report: Population, Migration and Other Social Characteristics |publisher=National Statistics Office, Malta |location=Valletta |date=2023 |access-date=5 October 2024 |isbn=978-9918-605-14-9 |page=159}}</ref> although the number may also include [[Oriental Orthodox Christian]]s, who are not in [[Full communion|communion]] with the former. There are a small number of parishes belonging to each [[autocephalous Church]], typically one for each. There are [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Greek]], [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]], [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian]], [[Romanian Orthodox Church|Romanian]], and [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Bulgarian Orthodox]] parishes located around Malta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecumenical Patriarchate Holy Patriarchal Exarchate of Malta |url=https://www.exarmalta.com/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Orthodox Parish of St. Paul the Apostle - Churches-Orthodox in San Gwann, Malta {{!}} Yellow Malta |url=https://www.yellow.com.mt/russian-orthodox-parish-of-st-paul-the-apostle_churches-orthodox+san-gwann/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |website=www.yellow.com.mt |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Парохија Св. Ап. Павла и Св. Никола на Малти {{!}} Епархија Аустрије, Швајцарске, Италије и Малте |url=https://spcmalta.com/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Romanian Orthodox Church Malta {{!}} orthodox church {{!}} The Church of Saint Rocco, 107 , Saint Ursula Street , Valletta , Malta |url=https://www.romanianchurchmalta.com/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |website=Romanian Orthodox |language=en}}</ref>

Most congregants of the local [[Protestant]] churches are not Maltese; their congregations mainly draw on vacationers and British retirees living in the country. There are also a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] church in [[Birkirkara]], and a [[New Apostolic Church]] congregation founded in 1983 in [[Gwardamanġa|Gwardamangia]].<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt">{{cite web |last=Vassallo |first=Harry |date=8 April 2009 |url=http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/08/t5.html |title=A map of faith in Malta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016010540/http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/04/08/t5.html |archive-date=16 October 2015 |work=MaltaToday |access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> There are approximately 600 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses |publisher=Watch Tower Society |year=2015 |page=182}}</ref> [[Mormonism]] is also represented with 241 members in 1 congregation in [[Mosta]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics and Church Facts {{!}} Total Church Membership |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/malta |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref>
[[File:Michelangelo Caravaggio 021.jpg|thumb|''[[The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (Caravaggio)|The Beheading of Saint John]]'', by [[Caravaggio]]. Oil on canvas, {{convert|361|x|520|cm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}. Oratory of the [[St. John's Co-Cathedral|Co-Cathedral]]]]
The Jewish population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta and [[Sicily]] came under [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragonese]] rule and the [[Alhambra Decree]] of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country. Today, there are two Jewish congregations.<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt" /> In 2019 the Jewish community in Malta gathered around 150 persons, slightly more than the 120 (of which 80 were active) estimated in 2003, and mostly elderly. Many among the newer generations decided to settle abroad, including in England and Israel. Most contemporary Maltese Jews are Sephardi, however, an Ashkenazi prayer book is used. In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Centre in Malta was founded.

There is one purpose-built Muslim [[mosque]], the [[Mariam Al-Batool Mosque]], although there are also a few improvised mosques located in Muslim homes spread around the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bugibba Mosque - Opening Hours, Reviews & Photos [2024] |url=https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/st-paul-s-bay/bugibba-mosque-141756431?curr=SAR&locale=en-US |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=TRIP.COM |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/people/Bugibba-Mosque-%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A8%D8%A7/61557732665236/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Of the estimated 3,000 [[Islam in Malta|Muslims in Malta]], approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalised citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2003 – Malta |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm |access-date=9 January 2008 |publisher=[[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625004310/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24422.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Zen Buddhism]] and the [[Baháʼí Faith]] claim some 40 members.<ref name="archive.maltatoday.com.mt" />

In a survey held by [[Malta Today]], the overwhelming majority of the Maltese population adheres to Christianity (95.2%) with Catholicism as the main denomination (93.9%); 4.5% of the population declared themselves either atheist or agnostic, one of the lowest figures in Europe.<ref name="2018 survey">{{Cite web |title=MaltaToday Survey {{!}} Maltese identity still very much rooted in Catholicism |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/data_and_surveys/85738/maltatoday_survey__maltese_identity_still_very_much_rooted_in_catholicism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326134607/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/data_and_surveys/85738/maltatoday_survey__maltese_identity_still_very_much_rooted_in_catholicism |archive-date=26 March 2019 |access-date=26 March 2019 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref> According to a 2019 [[Eurobarometer]] survey, 83% of the population identified as Catholic.<ref name="2019 Eurobarometer">{{Cite web |title=Special Eurobarometer 493, European Union: European Commission, September 2019, pages 229–230 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251 |access-date=3 October 2020 |website=ec.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311010736/https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251 |url-status=live }}</ref> The number of [[atheists]] has doubled from 2014 to 2018. [[Non-religious]] people have a higher risk of suffering from discrimination. In the 2015 edition of the annual [[International Humanist and Ethical Union#The Freedom of Thought Report|Freedom of Thought Report]] from the [[International Humanist and Ethical Union]], Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination". In 2016, following the [[Blasphemy law#Malta|abolishment of blasphemy law]], Malta was shifted to the category of "systematic discrimination" (same as most EU countries).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganado |first=Philip Leone |date=9 December 2016 |title=Malta still discriminating against the non-religious – report |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161209/local/malta-still-discriminating-against-the-non-religious-report.633311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210140814/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161209/local/malta-still-discriminating-against-the-non-religious-report.633311 |archive-date=10 December 2016 |website=[[The Times (Malta)|The Times]]}}</ref>