On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th May 2025, The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation hosted the third edition of the European Cathedrals Conference in Valletta, Malta. Themed “Sacred Art Conservation as a Vehicle of Re-Evangelization”, this year’s conference highlighted the crucial role of sacred art and architecture conservation in preserving and revitalising the spiritual, theological, and cultural messages they carry.
The conference organised in collaboration with the Opera della Primaziale Pisana of Pisa, Italy, studied how the safeguarding of religious heritage can act as a bridge between tradition and contemporary society, enabling sacred spaces to continue inspiring faith and reflection in modern audiences.
Now in its third year, the conference welcomed keynote speakers from across Europe to explore how preserving sacred spaces helps keep their spiritual message alive in today’s world. Participants included researchers, students, practitioners, and professionals who engaged in meaningful dialogue and knowledge-sharing, reinforcing the synergy between faith-based communities and the conservation world.
The conference was opened by Mgr. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, President of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, who remarked that “Across the centuries sacred art and architecture have served as effective channels of evangelization because they expressed, communicated, and nourished the faith of Christian communities. This is, regrettably, no longer the case with contemporary society, because today’s generations have lost their affinity with the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of faith, with the tragic consequence that the visual spiritual message enshrined for two millennia in sacred art has gradually disappeared. The Church thus needs to explore a new syntax, a fresh grammar and an upgraded vocabulary of faith in order to engage today’s generations in understanding the spiritual message that sacred art has been transmitting for two millennia”.
While the H.G. Archbishop Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, in his address, he added “Restoration and conservation of sacred art are important not only for the preservation of aesthetic beauty and the safeguarding of humanity’s historical and cultural patrimony but also in bringing out more effectively the spiritual beauty creatively communicated by the artist. Conservation methods and techniques ensure that artistic beauty and its spiritual mediation continue to be enjoyed and experienced without the risk of losing them forever”.
The event successfully provided a platform for robust discussion, interdisciplinary collaboration, and reflection on the evolving role of cathedrals in today’s society—especially as they continue to serve as both spiritual centres and cultural landmarks.
The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation remains committed to positioning the Co-Cathedral and its initiatives on the European cultural and academic map. Through conferences such as this, the Foundation fosters a shared European heritage network, advancing research, encouraging innovation, and deepening ties among cathedrals and their communities across the continent.
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