A smiling Monsignor Charles Scicluna yesterday vowed to “give his life” to the Maltese people, minutes after his return to Malta following 17 years of Vatican service.
He gave reporters the briefest of sound bites to chew on
Malta’s newly-appointed Auxiliary Bishop was ushered into Malta International Airport’s ministerial lounge, where he was greeted by Church dignitaries, family and friends.
He expressed his “happiness” at being back in Malta alongside Archbishop Paul Cremona and pledged to dedicate his life to helping the Maltese people.
The Canadian-born Maltese cleric is well-known within Vatican circles for his work as Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – effectively the Pope’s prosecutor – where he became renowned for doggedly rooting out priests who had sexually abused children.
Pope Benedict XVI has now sent Mgr Scicluna back home to help Archbishop Paul Cremona, who has been hampered by health problems in recent months, run the Maltese Church.
As Auxiliary Bishop, he will fill the role left vacant by the late Bishop Annetto Depasquale.
Mgr Scicluna may yet discover that life in the Maltese diocese is quieter than that within the Vatican’s halls of power, but his arrival in Malta yesterday was greeted by a sizeable group of inner-circle well-wishers.
Mgr Cremona was there, looking somewhat tired but happy, as was his predecessor, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca. The two men were joined by Apostolic Nuncio Tommaso Caputo.
Having exchanged greetings with the three, Mgr Scicluna then approached his nearest and dearest. A hug and kiss from his parents Maria Carmela and Emanuel drew spontaneous applause from the crowd, with Mgr Scicluna then greeting his siblings Monica, Josephine and Jesmond before moving on to other relatives and friends.
And having given reporters the briefest of sound bites to chew on, Mgr Scicluna was then whisked away, to begin his new life as Malta’s Auxiliary Bishop.