Cardinal Mario Grech Reportedly Among Top 5 Papacy Picks

Feb 26 2025

Malta’s Cardinal Mario Grech is among the top contenders to succeed Pope Francis, according to Vatican experts speaking to Times of Malta.

With Pope Francis’s recent health concerns, speculation is growing about the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Vatican correspondents Hendro Munsterman and Christopher White believe Grech stands a strong chance due to his approachable nature and key role as general secretary of the synod of bishops.

He has been instrumental in Pope Francis’s efforts to make the Church more inclusive and participatory. His leadership in the synod on synodality gives him a unique advantage, as he understands the ongoing reform process.

However, Grech is not a unanimous choice. Some question whether his personality is dynamic enough, while others believe his relatively young age—68—could lead to a lengthy papacy that some cardinals may want to avoid.

Additionally, conservative factions within the Church oppose the synodal reforms he champions, which could hinder his chances.

The papal conclave remains unpredictable, with no clear frontrunner. While Grech represents continuity with Pope Francis’s vision, other candidates, including Italians Pietro Parolin and Matteo Zuppi, as well as American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, could also emerge as strong contenders.

Ultimately, the next pope’s selection will likely reflect whether the Church wishes to continue Francis’s reforms or take a more cautious path.

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TikToker Goes Viral Speaking About Maltese Language

Feb 26 2025

TikTok creator @human.1011 took to social media to create a video about the Maltese language, diving into the origins of the language along with a brief history of the island.

‘What if you took Arabic and infused it with the Romance languages? That language actually exists – it’s called Maltese’, explains the creator.

@human.1011

Translation of those passages at the end: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.” This example is per Wikipedia so take it with a grain of salt, but a kind lady on the bus said it was accurate so 🤷 #malta #maltese #language #linguistics #arabic #history #english #sicilian #italian

♬ original sound – human1011

He goes on to give a brief history of the island from Arabic conquest, and even tries his hand at reading and translating some Maltese.

He explains how the academic words are of Romance origin whereas the roots are Arabic.

The TikTok creator produces informative videos relating to various topics ranging from science to languages, and has broadcasted the Maltese language to over 246K followers on the app.

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Maltese Entrepreneur Links Up Shark Tank Star

Feb 26 2025

In a story posted to Instagram, Daymond John, an entrepreneur known for being an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank, gave a shout out to one of his friends who hails from Malta.

Wesley Ellul linked the Shark with Christopher Kai, another entrepreneur and CEO of The Mayhem Group.

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A post shared by Wesley Ellul (@surwess)

Daymond wrote how ‘everything happens for a reason’ as he met with his Maltese friend who was having a meeting about one of his ‘same passions’ which entails ‘turning CEOs into publicly recognised and respected Thought Leaders a.k.a a shark.’

Ellul re-shared the story to his Instagram reels, writing ‘Daymond is right. Everything happens for a reason.’

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Hard-Earned Victory For Malta Women’s Team VS Andorra

Feb 26 2025

Malta earned their first three points in Group C2 of the UEFA Women’s Nations League with a 1-0 victory over Andorra at the Centenary Stadium on February 25, 2025.

Malta started strong, keeping control of the ball and attacking early. Their efforts paid off in the 11th minute when Haley Bugeja’s cross led to a blocked attempt from Alishia Cassar, but Shona Zammit reacted quickly and scored from the rebound.

Malta had more chances to extend their lead, with Bugeja narrowly missing twice—one shot going just over the goal and another brushing the top of the net.

A well-placed free kick from Rachel Cuschieri also created an opportunity, but Emma Limpan’s shot was saved by Andorra’s goalkeeper, Alba Martin. Despite Malta’s dominance, the score remained 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Andorra grew more confident and fought harder for the ball. Malta continued to push forward, but Andorra’s defence held strong.

Though the visiting team became more competitive, they struggled to create scoring opportunities. In the final moments, Malta focused on keeping possession, preventing Andorra from equalising, and securing their first win in the tournament.

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Photo Source: Andre Farrugia