A priest’s mission is not to condemn or excommunicate but to place his hands upon the sick and pray for the mercy of God which heals, the bishops said in their pastoral letter for Lent.

This is why, as your Bishops, we appeal to anyone amongst us who is sick, in our families or in our communities, to move closer to Jesus Christ, who St Augustine refers to as the “Healer of the Soul,” Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said.

The pastoral letter can be read in full below

Pastoral letter