I had written expressing my preoccupation with concerns raised by a number of clergymen to what they described as the Church leadership crisis. Notwithstanding my human defects, I do have a sincere and ingrained wish to see Church membership and participation flourish and it is with this frame of mind that I have felt compelled to express myself.

I have no doubt that leadership crisis talk contributed in no small way to hasten Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona’s decision to resign. There could have been other reasons, perhaps the recent alleged abuse scandal.

Mgr Cremona, in his usual pastoral disposition, would not want to cause discord under any form and, hence, hastened his resignation.

It also seems that, due to physical exhaustion, he felt he was not delivering as expected and that he ought to go.

His resignation and the selection of a new archbishop set my mind to explore the qualities which I think the Church and the future archbishop should be endowed with.

The Apostolic Nuncio has now communicated to the Pope three names for consideration after a consultative exercise.

It could be just curiosity but I would like to be illuminated as to how the Apostolic Nuncio went about the consultation process that involved meetings with bishops, members of the clergy and laymen.

It is not just curiosity because, as a member, I feel I am entitled to understand what this exercise entails. Is it structured and con-ducted in any prescribed format?

Maltese society is slowly becoming a cauldron of cultures, religions, nationalities and races

I express this wish perhaps even on behalf of other lay members who constitute a major segment of the Church membership.

In my mind, I see the nuncio as having been guided in this exercise by spiritual meditation and enlightenment but I am sure some form of methodology was adopted.

Without in anyway inferring disrespect, I hasten to ask: who, when and how many where involved in this process?

Because of lack of knowledge, I would even dare think that it is a non-transparent process, possibly not that all inclusive.

While I acknowledge that faith should guide me towards finding an explanation and accept this process, I feel that a lot could have been done to keep Church members as informed as possible on the progress of this selection process.

Pope Francis has the supreme but onerous task of appointing Malta’s archbishop. I am sure that, in making his choice, he will be influenced by his own personal attributes; what is being commonly referred to as the ‘Francis effect’.

The persona is based on the overall image projected by the Holy Father. He is presenting himself as a moderate listener, with an open mind and a common touch.

He has a collaborative leadership style and, as demonstrated during the last synod, adopts a compassionate tone on controversial topics.

I see the Pope as inducing a non-judgemental Church, emblazoned with total humility where a wide embracing attitude of human mercy supersedes any other consideration.

One of the reasons mentioned by Mgr Cremona in his resignation meeting with the media was that he felt he was no longer creative. I do not think that by creativity he was referring to novelty in the teachings of the Church, which we believe has been passed on to us through divine intervention.

Let us look at Pope Francis; he is being creative sometimes by reverting to basics.

He is gradually using his background, upbringing, experiences and his pastoral inclinations to blend the same sentiments throughout Church institutions and functions.

What impresses me most is the constant spirit of spontaniety that the Pope shows during meetings with people. And it is through this spontaniety that he intuitively searches for and finds alternative ways to carry forward the message of Christ.

In a recent speech, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was reported as saying that the Church was no longer central to our cultural activities.

Bishop Charles Scicluna was quick to pick this up and immediately retorted that the Maltese Church must continue being there for society, irrespective of whether it is at the centre of our lives or not.

The Church does not need to be central in all cultural activities at all costs; I venture to say that, in some of them, it might be better off if it is not involved at all.

The link to culture is something that evolved as an indirect consequence of other factors, sometimes extraneous to faith or religion.

What the Church needs is a leader who can lead through example, discipline and direction, when and where needed.

He must strive to sustain member-ship by attracting people through humility and piety.

Maltese society is slowly becoming a cauldron of cultures, religions, nationalities and races. And this presents a challenge for all, including members of the Catholic Church and its leader.

I perceive the new archbishop as striving to imbue in the clergy an attitude of service aimed at attracting many, not necessarily or solely to embrace the Catholic faith. It is what our missionaries do all over the world.

They attract new members through the provision of assistance in the most basic of needs prevalent in the community where they serve.

They build schools and hospitals, feed the poor and care for orphans. They might not have become central to the culture of those around them, in fact, I think they would not even dream of trying to become so. But the indirect result of their work is attraction to the persona and, sometimes, the Catholic faith. Church membership is reported as flourishing in those countries where missionaries work.

The Catholic faith is self sufficient and does not need to be central to any culture because it is neither below nor above cultures.

The new archbishop should possess a personal conviction to promote this belief so, in the future, the Church can prosper through participative membership.

This belief can convince members that they are free from being defined in terms of or dependent on what others are doing. Why do we have to give so much attention to perhaps the secular aspect when gauging the future of Catholicism?

It has become very easy to brand, even in Catholic circles, as antiquated anyone percieved not to be progressive.

And, in evaluating our new archishop, we must not fall into this trap because there are aspects of modern society that any person, most of all a faithful Catholic, can reject. I say this because I believe there are aspects of our faith that cannot be compromised in any way.

Doing so can be described as a distraction rather than an attraction to faith.

Finally, I am glad to believe that the future of the Catholic Church is sound because it breathes in Christ with God. It is in Christ that it has survived throughout the ages, primarily by its ‘yes’ to His teachings and will.

I am sure that the new archbishop will be guided in his work by his personal affirmation for this eternal ‘yes’ to God’s plan for life.