Archbishop Charles Scicluna must act swiftly to tackle many issues that may have been swept under the carpet for too long. Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiArchbishop Charles Scicluna must act swiftly to tackle many issues that may have been swept under the carpet for too long. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

New beginnings are the two words that came to my mind as I sat at my desk struggling with my thoughts in an attempt to write something coherent and interesting that would make readers of Times of Malta bother to go through.

I make no claim on any particular journalistic experience, apart from my two summer work experiences with the editorial team of The Sunday Times of Malta, then headed by Anthony Montanaro, way back in the 1980s when I was still reading for my law degree.

Those were the days of the student-worker scheme and of a university having a student population of about 1,000 and where we all practically knew each other by name on campus and could picnic in the surrounding fields. That was, of course, before the advent of Fr Peter Serracino Inglott who, from his Ir-Razzett tal-Ħursun began the process of metamorphosis of our foremost academic institution, which now has a student population of 11,000 plus organised into 14 faculties, a number of institutes and centres and a School of Performing Arts.

In my days, there were only six faculties at Tal-Qroqq and a Faculty of Theology that had been exiled to Ta-Virtù. Which is how I first met Charles Scicluna. My initiation in student politics saw me take over the post of KSU secretary general from Charles, who went on to become the international secretary.

Charles was the proud standard bearer of the Theology students in their crusade to reverse their diaspora. He was also keen to be involved and to ensure that, although not physically present at Tal-Qroqq, Theology students formed an integral part of the student body.

Charles Scicluna’s human side, though sometimes possibly misunderstood, is his asset

I can recall at least two trips when Charles and I travelled abroad together. The first was our participation in a winter school organised in Warsaw by the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN). Poland was then under martial law, ruled by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.

In that context, one may imagine my serious preoccupation when Charles disappeared. I was aware that he had found some church where he could attend Mass. Little did I know that, after Mass, he was taken to the secret hideout where Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko was being kept to meet the heroic priest who had become a symbol of opposition to the regime and to the system.

I regret to this day not having taken up Charles’ offer to join him for Mass, having preferred to party along with other students from all parts of the world.

I recall having attended his ordination as a deacon. However, subsequently, there was not much contact with him until I entered the Seminary.

In 1994, Charles was appointed vice rector of the Major Seminary. We considered his appointment to this role as rather odd, though who were we to understand the logic?

It was not an easy year for us. Clearly, something was not quite right and he had been sent to fix it. He only spent one year at Tal-Virtù because his services were requested at the Apostolic Segnatura in Rome.

However, his attributes truly shone out during his 10 years as Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith between 2002 and 2012.

Frankly speaking, had I been faced with the situations he had to deal with, I doubt how much I would have survived.

It was common knowledge that Charles had to face serious challenges to get to the bottom of the cases he was called to investigate and prosecute. It is very difficult to continue to see the splendour of the Church in the midst of so much “filth” (to quote from Joseph Ratzinger’s mediations on the Way of the Cross for Good Friday of 10 years ago, practically the eve of his election to the papacy).

Tomorrow, Charles will officially become the new Archbishop of Malta. I refrain from volunteering any words of counsel or advice or from commenting on what is needed and necessary today and for the foreseeable future.

Certainly, as Archbishop, Scicluna has a lot to do and he must act swiftly to tackle many issues that may have been swept under the carpet for too long. He is not perfect and I know that from first-hand experience. Yet, I have every confidence in the man because his human side, though sometimes possibly misunderstood, is his asset.

He is just like you and me. He knows when to be serious but can also poke fun at himself, even publicly. He recognises that gone are the days of the ‘prince-archbishops’ although how far he will go to accommodate so-called traditionalists with a nostalgia for past glory has still to be seen.

He has gone on record saying that he is not so comfortable with some of the vestments he is being made to wear.

I truly hope to see more of Francis in Charles.

Irrespective of where one stands with regard to the Church, tomorrow is a new beginning because, love it or loathe it, in these islands of extremes, the Church is still a significant presence wielding considerable influence.

My hope is that Charles Scicluna will be able to pick up the fragments and put together all the pieces in the mosaic.

The Church is the very reflection of our society and does not stand outside it. Yet, many today find themselves made to feel outsiders because others are not comfortable with the diversity that prevails today and which they perceive as a threat. The longer such attitudes have the upper hand, the more difficult it will turn out for Charles to accomplish his desire to dialogue with contemporary society and to build bridges.

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