A Gozitan cleric, Mgr Alfred Xuereb, is expected to be appointed the Pope's second secretary today, sources said yesterday.

Mgr Xuereb's appointment has been mentioned on the Italian website www.papanews.it which said that he was likely to replace Mgr Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki. Currently, 48-year-old Mgr Xuereb is secretary of US Archbishop James M. Harvey, the prefect of the Casa Pontificia. Once he becomes second secretary, he will be one of the prelates accompanying the Pope when personalities visit the Vatican.

When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Mgr Xuereb had been taking care of all his audiences for two years. Towards the end of the Pope's life, he had also been reading his speeches.

Ordained in 1984, Mgr Xuereb was described by the Italian website as an affable and courteous man who could speak many languages.

Contacted yesterday, Mgr Xuereb would not confirm or deny the appointment.

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