Church of Our Lady of Pompeii
(Please allow a few seconds for the video to load)
Welcome to
“The Church of Our Lady of Pompeii” digital experience where history and technology intertwine to bring you an immersive experience.
Explore the Chapel
Below, you will find a ‘Paywall’ feature, requesting you to make a donation to be able to enter the page.
Once you are in, you will find
360° Panorama
Zoom to full screen to view
Church of Our Lady of Pompeii
The Church of Our Lady of Pompeii was founded as part of the Dominican Sisters’ Convent in Victoria, Gozo. Its origins go back to 1889, when local philanthropist Carolina Cauchi established the convent with the help of Gozo’s Bishop Pietro Pace.
In response to growing devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, construction of the chapel began in 1895. It was completed and officially opened on March 25, 1900, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation. The chapel was designed to serve both the sisters’ spiritual life and the broader Gozitan community.
Architectural Features
Designed by Vincenzo Mercieca, the church features classic Baroque architecture, with a limestone façade, pilasters, a curved pediment, and the symbolic Eye of Providence above the main doorway. The interior includes a marble altar, a modest dome, and richly detailed artwork that reflects the Dominican tradition.
Consecrated in 1923, the church is physically attached to the convent and has served as a centre of devotion, education, and charity for over a century.
Spiritual and Cultural Importance
Though not a parish church, the sanctuary is a key religious site in Gozo. It holds annual feast celebrations on May 8 and the first Sunday in October, featuring special Masses, processions, and recitations of the Supplica prayer to Our Lady of Pompeii.
The Dominican Sisters have long supported education and healthcare on the island, founding an infant school in 1914 and helping at Gozo’s Isolation Hospital. Their work continues today through a childcare centre within the convent complex.
A major milestone came in 1966, when the church’s titular painting was canonically crowned, a rare honour in Malta and Gozo. The celebration drew crowds from across the island, cementing the chapel’s spiritual status.
Present-Day Role
Today, the Church of Our Lady of Pompeii remains fully active. It is managed by the Dominican Sisters, with Masses celebrated regularly and the church open to the public for quiet prayer.
The chapel is a beloved part of the Victoria community, drawing pilgrims and locals for special feasts and daily devotions. It underwent restorations after storm damage in 2009 and again in 2025, when lightning struck the dome’s lantern—an incident that highlighted both the chapel’s vulnerability and the community’s dedication to preserving it.
Unique Local Stories
This church is rich with stories that add to its cultural charm:
- A statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, originally ordered for Gozo Cathedral, was rejected and found its home here. Sculptor Wistin Camilleri modified it, and it became one of the church’s most beloved figures.
- Founder Carolina Cauchi was buried in the Gozo Cathedral, a symbol of humility and recognition of her contributions to the island.
- During World War II, the convent and church were spared from bombing—an event many consider miraculous.
- In 1950, a neighbour broadcast the Pope’s proclamation of the Assumption dogma via loudspeaker so the sisters, without a radio, could hear it—an enduring example of community support.
In 2007, the church and Cauchi were honoured on a commemorative Maltapost stamp, further embedding them in national memory.
Art and Decoration
Despite its small size, the church is home to some of Malta’s most treasured sacred art:
- The main altarpiece, by Lazzaro Pisani, depicts the Virgin Mary handing rosaries to St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. This painting was crowned in 1966.
- Pisani also created side altar paintings of St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Joseph, St. Raphael, and St. Expeditus.
- A unique painting of the Holy Name of God by Giuseppe Calì was gifted by the Dominican Fathers of Valletta.
- Statues of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Dominic add sculptural beauty and devotional depth.
Together, these artworks form a miniature museum of Maltese sacred art, elevating the church’s spiritual ambiance and drawing art lovers and pilgrims alike.
The Miracle of Pompeii: A Story of Redemption, Faith, and Malta’s Devotion
In the late 19th century, amid the ruins of ancient Pompeii, a remarkable story began to unfold — one that would bring thousands of people to kneel in prayer before a once-forgotten image of the Virgin Mary. What is now known as the Miracle of Pompeii did not begin with thunder and lightning, but with a man burdened by his past and searching for a way to make peace with it.
Bartolo Longo, born in 1841, was a trained lawyer who, during his youth in Naples, strayed far from the Church and became involved in spiritualist and occult circles. He later described this period of his life as one of deep inner turmoil. Eventually, through the guidance of a Dominican friar and a reawakening of his childhood faith, Longo turned his life around. The Rosary became central to this transformation, and he pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to its promotion.
In 1875, while working to improve the lives of the poor in the Valley of Pompeii, Longo obtained a battered painting of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, with Saints Dominic and Catherine of Siena at her side. The image was hardly what one would call inspiring — it was faded, cracked, and destined for a storeroom. Yet Longo believed it could serve as a symbol for his mission. He had it restored and displayed in a small chapel.
Soon after, stories began to circulate of miraculous healings and answered prayers. People began to arrive from across Italy to pray before the image. In time, a church was built to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. It was officially declared a sanctuary by Pope Leo XIII in 1901.
Among the many accounts associated with the image, the most widely known is the cure of Fortuna Agrelli in 1884. Suffering from multiple illnesses and given little hope by doctors, Fortuna reportedly saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, who instructed her to pray three novenas of the Rosary for her request and three in thanksgiving. After completing the prayers, Fortuna was healed, and this devotion — often called the “Pompeii Novena” — gained popularity worldwide.
Malta’s Connection to Pompeii
Malta, known for its deeply rooted Catholic tradition, embraced the devotion to Our Lady of Pompeii with particular warmth. In the southern fishing village of Marsaxlokk, the Parish Church of Our Lady of Pompei was completed in 1892 — just a few years after the Sanctuary in Italy was consecrated. It was built by Marquess Rosalia Apap Viani Testaferrata, who had made a vow to the Madonna during a fierce storm at sea. Upon her safe return, she kept her promise and financed the church’s construction.
This wasn’t the only Maltese link. In Gozo, the Church of Our Lady of Pompei in Victoria was established by the Dominican sisters and has remained an important place of worship ever since. The influence of the Pompeii devotion is also felt in Valletta, where the Jesuit church houses a copy of the original painting and holds regular Rosary devotions.
A Quiet Transformation
What makes the Miracle of Pompeii especially compelling is how quietly it developed. There was no sudden apparition, no earthquake or spectacle. Instead, it was the steady faith of one man, the quiet power of the Rosary, and the belief that redemption is never out of reach — even in a place as unlikely as the shadow of a ruined Roman city.
Malta’s early embrace of this devotion reflects a cultural kinship with this story of transformation. For a people whose history is closely tied to survival, faith, and the sea, the story of Our Lady of Pompeii found a natural home. It continues to be celebrated not with grand proclamations, but with processions, prayers, and the simple act of lighting a candle in hope.
