Auxiliary bishop Annetto Depasquale has died, aged 73, the Archbishop's Curia said.

He died at 3.45 p.m.

FUNERAL DETAILS

The Curia said that tomorrow (Wednesday) the body of Mgr Depasquele will be carried in a cortège from his residence in High Street, Qormi, to St George Parish Church where it will lie in state until 10 p.m.

On Thursday, the funeral cortège leaves the church at 8.15 a.m. for St John's Co-Cathedral, where the bodywill lie in state up to 1 p.m.

The funeral Mass, led by Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona, will be said at 2 p.m.

Burial will be held privately at the Addolorata Cemetery.

Mgr Depasquale was born in Qormi on June 28, 1938 and was ordained a priest on April 7, 1962.

He served in the Commission for Children's Homes and the Pastoral Research Services as well as the parish of St George in Qormi and later the parish of English-speaking Catholics.

He was appointed Chancellor of the Curia in 1977 and Pastoral Secretary in April 1986.

He became Vicar General - deputy to Archbishop Joseph Mercieca on November 16, 1989. His episcopal ordination took place on January 2, 1999.

Once viewed as a possible successor to Mgr Mercieca, Mgr Depasquale suffered serious ill health which kept him away from his duties for several months. Although he eventually returned to duty, he never fully recovered.

The prime minister and the leader of the opposition both expressed their condolences.

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