A pectoral cross carried on the statue of St Augustine in St Augustine parish church in Valletta has been stolen, according to a church spokesman.

The theft was noticed on Wednesday.

The cross was the pectoral cross of Mgr Giovanni Camilleri, Bishop of Gozo from 1890 to 1925. Mgr Camilleri, an Augustinian, had spent the last year of his life at St Augustine’s convent in Rabat.

The cross was among items that Mgr Camilleri left to the Augustinian community on his death, and it was used to adorn the statue of St Augustine.

Appealing for any information that someone might have regarding its whereabouts, the spokesman said the cross was valuable in itself, but was also valuable due to its Augustinian province.

Anyone with information should contact the parish priest, Fr Saviour Grima, on tel. 2123-8868, mobile 7961-7366. The number of the convent in Old Bakery Street is 2123-8861 or 2124-5934.