Ir-Rabat (Victoria) is the capital city of the Maltese island of Gozo. The name Victoria was given to the town in 1887 in honour of the famous British Queen’s Golden Jubilee. At the same time, the town was raised to the status of a city becoming officially known as Citta’ ir-Rabat (Victoria).
The statue was raised to Pope Pius IX in gratitude for his agreement to create a new Diocese of Gozo.
The island of Gozo is the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago. It is situated 6 km northwest of Malta and covers just 67 square kilometres.
The stretch of sea that separates Gozo from Malta is a mere six kilometres wide, but the difference between the island and the islanders was not insignificant. This was especially due to the poor means of communications that, until quite recently, could be disrupted for days due to rough seas. A journey from Gozo to Malta was an adventure that many people never thought of undertaking during a whole lifetime. Depending on the winds, the sea voyage could take up to four hours one-way as the main harbour in Malta was on the other side of the island.
Gozo and Comino were part of the diocese of Malta. However, due especially to the very poor means of communications the bishop of Malta rarely visited these islands. With a steadily growing population and an increase of burdens and problems, the visits of the bishops to Gozo became more and more rare. A bishop or two, in fact, never set foot on the island.
The island of Gozo decided to request for the establishment of a diocese which was forwarded on 30 October 1798.
It took many years of discussion before a delegation representing the priests and people of Gozo made up of Canon Precentor Michelangelo Garroni, Canon Gaetano Bondi and Don Pietro Pace, had a private audience with Pope Pius IX on 9 June 1855.
The Pope was sympathetic to their request despite protests from Malta itself.
Gozo finally became its own Diocese in September 1864.
There is a plaque on the plinth of the statue.
PIJU IX
IL-PAPA LI
B IMHABBA LIEMA BHALHA
WAQQAF ID-DJOCESI TA'
GHAWDEX
U
GHOLLA GHALL-GIEH
TA' KATIDRAL
LILL-MATRICI TA' L-ASSUNTA
22 TA' SETTEMBRU 1864
There is a statue of Pope Paul II on the right hand side of the steps.