Mgr Philip Calleja retires from cathedral foundation

Mgr Philip Calleja, who recently turned 80, has decided not to retain his post as council member of St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation after his three-year term came to an end.

As he stepped down, Mgr Calleja, one of the founders, said it had been of great satisfaction for him to see major conservation and restoration projects implemented successfully over the past years.

These projects included the restoration of the chapel of Italy, the triumphal arches and the ongoing conservation of the unique set of Flemish tapestries.

Mgr Calleja was recently at the forefront of the controversial proposal to construct an underground museum for the cathedral in Valletta. The plans were eventually withdrawn.

The planned museum extension was primarily intended to create more exhibition space, particularly for a series of priceless tapestries based on sketches by Peter Paul Ruebens.

As he stepped down he lamented that the foundation had not succeeded in extending the museum to adequately exhibit the cathedral's extremely rich and unique treasures.

The foundation is made up of three members appointed by the Archbishop and three members appointed by the Prime Minister. Mgr Calleja, together with Malta's permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana, was instrumental in setting it up in 2001.

He served as president on several occasions; this post, which is voluntary and honorary, alternates between a nominee of the Prime Minister and a nominee of the Archbishop.