The Maltese Church’s episcopal conference will for the first time be headed by the Gozo Bishop instead of the Archbishop.

The move came as a surprise to Church observers since it has always been the practice for the Archbishop to head the highest decision-making organ.

The conference brings together the bishops who represent the Maltese ecclesiastical province, made up of the Maltese and Gozitan dioceses.

It includes Archbishop Paul Cremona, Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca and Nuncio Aldo Cavalli.

This is the first time he is heading the conference

According to Mgr Lawrence Gatt, chancellor of the Maltese Curia, this is the first time since its inception after the Second Vatican Council that the episcopal conference has been headed by the Gozo Bishop.

However, he explained that Canon Law did not stipulate that the president should always be the Archbishop, adding the Maltese experience was a question of practice.

“In other provinces that include many bishops, a vote is actually taken and anybody can be elected president,” Mgr Gatt said.

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech yesterday told Times of Malta that the episcopal conference’s statute stated the presidency should change every three years.

“This is the first time that the Gozo Bishop is heading the conference but I believe the decision to apply the statute is the fruit of Archbishop Paul Cremona’s sense of collaboration,” Mgr Grech said.

Concerns have been raised about Mgr Cremona’s health over the past year but Mgr Grech insisted the decision to do away with traditional practice was a result of the Archbishop’s “great spirit of fraternity”.

We developed a close relationship, like brothers

He noted that over the past seven years, since Mgr Cremona was appointed Archbishop – a year after Mgr Grech was made Gozo Bishop – a close rapport had developed between them.

“We developed a close relationship, like brothers, and unlike what used to happen in the past the episcopal conference met every month, sometimes more,” Mgr Grech said, adding that the conference strengthened the Church’s pastoral work for the respective communities in Malta and Gozo.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com