Another 48-year-old Gozitan Bishop

Mgr Fra Gajetan Pace Forno OSA was 48 years old when he was appointed bishop, just like the new Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Fr Mario Grech.

Mgr Pace Forno was born in Victoria on June 5, 1809. His parents were Francis Pace, Deputy Attorney General, and Lucy dei Baroni Forno of Palermo.

At 15 he joined the Maltese Austin Friars. Soon after his ordination he was appointed Regent of Studies. He graduated Master of Theology in 1836. In 1847 he was elected Provincial of the Maltese Austin Friars. In 1848 he founded the first private school in Malta: Scuola gratuitas Agostino.

The motto was: Religio et Patria. The aim of that school was threefold: social, to help the poor; religious, because at that time a Protestant infiltration was felt; and educational. In September 1857 he was appointed Bishop, coadjutor cum futura successione and was consecrated at St Augustine's, Rome on October 4 of that year.

On December 3 he was appointed Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes. He made his solemn entrance on May 31, 1858.

He worked hard for the clergy. Through him Pope Pius IX endowed the Seminary with the same rights as Pontifical Universities.

The poor were close to his heart. He helped the widows, orphans and girls for marriage as well as in education.

He died at Naples on July 22, 1874.

A year later his remains were brought to Malta and buried at the Mdina Cathedral.