Query: Malta has a form of Christianity as its official religion.

Relevant passages:
Malta <=SEP=> Malta ( -LSB- ˈmɒltə -RSB- -LSB- ˈmɐltɐ -RSB- ) , officially known as the Republic of Malta ( Repubblika ta ' Malta ) , is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea . It lies 80 km south of Italy , 284 km east of Tunisia , and 333 km north of Libya . The country covers just over 316 km2 , with a population of just under 450,000 , making it one of the world 's smallest and most densely populated countries . The capital of Malta is Valletta , which at 0.8 km2 , is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area . Malta has one national language , which is Maltese , and English as an official language .   Malta 's location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base , and a succession of powers , including the Phoenicians , Carthaginians , Greeks , Romans , Byzantines , Moors , Normans , Sicilians , Spanish , Knights of St. John , French and British , have ruled the islands .   King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 for the country 's bravery in the Second World War . The George Cross continues to appear on Malta 's national flag . Under the Malta Independence Act , passed by the British Parliament in 1964 , Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom as an independent sovereign Commonwealth realm , officially known from 1964 to 1974 as the State of Malta , with Elizabeth II as its head of state . The country became a republic in 1974 , and although no longer a Commonwealth realm , remains a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations . Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004 ; in 2008 , it became part of the Eurozone .   Malta has a long Christian legacy and its Archdiocese of Malta is claimed to be an apostolic see because , according to Acts of the Apostles , St Paul was shipwrecked on `` Melita '' , now widely taken to be Malta . Catholicism is the official religion in Malta .   Malta is a popular tourist destination with its warm climate , numerous recreational areas , and architectural and historical monuments , including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites : Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum , Valletta , and seven Megalithic Temples , which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world .

Catholic Church <=SEP=> The Catholic Church , also known as the Roman Catholic Church , is the largest Christian Church , with more than 1.29 billion members worldwide . As one of the oldest religious institutions in the world , it has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilisation . Headed by the Bishop of Rome , known as the Pope , the church 's doctrines are summarised in the Nicene Creed . Its central administration , the Holy See , is in the Vatican City , enclaved within Rome , Italy .   The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ , that its bishops are the successors of Christ 's apostles , and that the Pope is the successor to Saint Peter . The Catholic Church maintains that the doctrine on faith and morals that it declares as definitive is infallible . The Latin Church and Eastern Catholic Churches , as well as institutes such as mendicant orders and enclosed monastic orders , reflect a variety of theological and spiritual emphases in the Church .   The Catholic Church is notable within Western Christianity for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments . The principal sacrament , the Eucharist , is celebrated liturgically in the Mass. . The church teaches that through consecration by a priest the sacrificial bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ . The Catholic Church practises closed communion , with only baptised members in a state of grace ordinarily permitted to receive the Eucharist .   The Virgin Mary is venerated in the Catholic Church as Queen of Heaven and is honoured in numerous Marian devotions . The Catholic Church has defined four Marian dogmas : the Immaculate Conception , the dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin ; her status as the Mother of God ; her perpetual virginity ; and her bodily assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life .   The Catholic Church has influenced Western philosophy , science , art and culture , and from the Middle Ages until the Modern Age acted as the principal force of unity in the Western world .   Catholic spiritual teaching includes spreading the Gospel while Catholic social teaching emphasises support for the sick , the poor and the afflicted through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy . The Catholic Church is the largest non-government provider of education and medical services in the world .   From the late 20th century , the Catholic Church has been criticised for its doctrines on sexuality , its refusal to ordain women and its handling of sexual abuse cases .