The process to choose an archbishop is still in its infancy but the discussion is under way about the qualities that the next Church leader should have.
An ability to decide and to be outspoken whenever the need arises appear to be common traits favoured by those approached by Times of Malta for their reaction.
In many ways the two traits are the biggest criticisms that were levelled towards Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona by Church insiders, who felt that the institution lacked leadership.
Fr Claude Portelli, the St Julian’s parish priest, said the new archbishop must be humane but ready to take decisions when the need arose.
“The new archbishop ideally would need to be a man of God, close to the people and one who speaks the truth by not being afraid to be a witness for Christ’s teachings,” he said.
For conservatives like dentist Klaus Vella Bardon the former archbishop was too good a man and unable to take hard decisions when required.
He noted that during the divorce referendum campaign, Mgr Cremona had too many priests “cutting down each other” openly.
“If two are saying different things, they are either both wrong or else only one of them is right. But both cannot be right and this confused believers,” Dr Vella Bardon said.
The new archbishop should have the courage to discipline people and take a stand when necessary, he added.
“He should have the self-assuredness to control his own people, including taking hard decisions.”
An archbishop cannot please everyone
But from the pastoral aspect, Dr Vella Bardon said the archbishop must reach out and invite all people to convert.
“He must do this without being politically correct in his words. An archbishop cannot please everyone,” he said.
This is possibly the biggest dilemma the Church worldwide faces.
Both liberal and conservative Catholics urge their Church to speak out but what they mean is another issue altogether.
The same problem was witnessed at the bishops’ synod in Rome with some professing openness and compassion while others insisting on strict and unwavering interpretations of the Church’s millennial teachings.
Fr Anġ Seychell, who heads Dar Nazareth, a community home for the disabled, said the archbishop must be “a modern-day prophet”.
An archbishop must be able to criticise society in God’s name, he added.
“Like the prophets, an archbishop must be a good listener but also able to speak out about social problems when the need arises. What he says must be in God’s name and not clouded by partisanship or materialism,” Fr Seychell said.
But he believes the Vatican should also choose someone who is Maltese rather than Gozitan.
“We’ve already had such an experience,” he said without elaborating, while acknowledging that this would automatically exclude Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.
The archbishops that preceded Mgr Paul Cremona – Mgr Michael Gonzi and Mgr Giuseppe Mercieca – were both Gozitan.
In the sea of uncertainty that will characterise the run-up to the final decisions one thing is certain: finding an archbishop with the right qualities to take the Church forward in a changed society will not be easy.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com
Times Talk will be discussing Mgr Cremona’s resignation and the choice of the new archbishop tonight at 6.45pm on TVM.