Addressing hundreds of priests, religious, seminarians and lay people who were awaiting his arrival in the courtyard of the Seminary of St Gall in Ouidah during his recent apostolic journey to Benin, Pope Benedict XVI said that without the logic of holiness, the priestly ministry is merely a social function.
“Faced with the challenges of human existence, the priest of today and tomorrow – if he wants to be a credible witness to the service of peace, justice and reconciliation – must be a humble and balanced man, one who is wise and magnanimous,” said the Holy Father.
Just a few days after this pronouncement by the Pope, the Church in Malta and the people of these islands lost a much-loved pastor whose priestly life and witness had all that the Pontiff spoke of and even more.
Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale, who died yesterday aged 73, served the Church with much love and as best he could without ever seeking the limelight.
After his 1962 priestly ordination, he went to Rome to study Canon law and pastoral theology. Back in Malta, a string of responsibilities was awaiting him over the years: assistant director of the pastoral research services, lecturer in Canon law at the Faculty of Theology, Chancellor of the Archbishop’s Curia, Pastoral Secretary of the Archdiocese and Vicar General of Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca.
It is well known that Mgr Depasquale was very close to Mgr Mercieca and it was no surprise when, on November, 16 1998, it was announced that Mgr Depasquale was appointed Auxiliary Bishop. Indeed, Mgr Depasquale, who was consecrated bishop on January 2, 1999, was widely considered as a possible successor to Archbishop Mercieca.
However, it happened that Mgr Depasquale suffered serious ill health, which kept him away from his duties for a considerable period of time. He surely had the will power to do his best to recover and move on but he was never able to fully recover.
Yet, in spite of all the difficulties and suffering he had to continue facing in his life, Mgr Depasquale continued to attend regularly to his Curia duties, to offer with a smile his always meticulous work, studied reflections and generous help not only to Archbishop Mercieca and, later, to Archbishop Paul Cremona but to whoever used to knock on his door to seek his advice or assistance.
Mgr Depasquale’s priesthood was clearly founded on a clear yes to his Master. In him one could sense a daily-growing awareness that, precisely by conforming himself to the will of God and immersing himself in His will, he increasingly enters into the truth of his being and his ministry.
Mgr Depasquale was also a pastor who knew that in prayer the priest is called to rediscover the ever-new face of his Lord, the most authentic content of his mission. He always had full faith in the Lord and invariably trusted in Him also and, above all, during his moments of trial.
The way Mgr Depasquale faced his suffering gave witness to his profound belief that, in sacrificing himself for all humans, Christ gave a new meaning to suffering, opening up a new dimension, a new order: the order of love.
Mgr Depasquale suffered and loved in communion with Christ. In the depths of his heart, Mgr Depasquale was united to the sentiments of Jesus, who loved unto the end, unto the total gift of self.
The Church, the faithful and these islands owe Mgr Depasquale a lot.