A soft-spoken Carmena Scicluna, 79, feels her son’s friendly nature will help him connect with people when he officially becomes Malta’s Archbishop today.

“The nature of your character is a gift from God. He surely doesn’t get this trait from me since I am so reserved and he can get along with anyone,” she smiles humbly.

Her husband, Emanuel, lets out a loud chuckle, a clear clue to the origin of their son’s renowned bubbly character.

“When he was small, he became an altar boy. As he grew up, he was always becoming something. Now he became Archbishop,” says Mr Scicluna, 85, as he recalls his son Charles’s career path.

He was born in Canada in 1959 but his parents returned to Malta when he was 11 months old. Ms Scicluna was pregnant with their second child, Monica. They had another two children, Josette and Jesmond.

Charlie, as they call him, was a reserved young man who attended the Legion of Mary. Initially, he started studying to become an accountant, in accordance with his father’s wishes. He changed to law and, in his second year of studies, told his parents he wanted to enter the Seminary to become a priest.

When he was small, he became an altar boy. As he grew up, he was always becoming something. Now he became Archbishop

He told this father about this career choice through music. Father and son were painting the internal doors of their house when Charlie started playing Church music. When the cassette finished he played it again and again.

“I asked him what in the world he was listening to. He told me I’d better get used to it as he was becoming a priest,” Mr Scicluna recalls. Mgr Scicluna, who graduated in civil law in 1984, became a priest in 1986 and lived with his parents until he went to Rome to study.

The Vatican asked him to stay and during his 17-year stint there he also served as Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, until he returned to Malta and was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop in November 2012.

Today, the 55-year-old will officially succeed Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona, who stepped down last year for health reasons. This time, he did not use Church music to break the life-changing news to his parents.

“We cried together when he told us he was chosen,” his mother recalls, adding that after the Apostolic Nuncio communicated the news to him last month he went straight home to share the news with them.

“It is his calling. We pray for him,” she says, adding that once it became public she started receiving lots of greetings.

Some days ago, Mr Scicluna adds, they were with their son in Rabat and tourists wanted to take photos with them. “They heard we were the parents of the Archbishop.”

Mgr Scicluna’s brother and sisters found out through the internet. They were very happy for their brother.

“I think he will be loved because he can go down to everyone’s level. I think he will be loved by young people. Of course, you can never please everyone,” his sister, Josette Grixti, says.

Monica Lanzon, his other sister, adds: “I’m sure there will be difficult moments.”

“He’s a perfectionist. We hope he finds the support of fellow priests around him. For now, everyone is happy for you but when something happens and people don’t like it, things change,” Ms Grixti adds.

They also hope their brother will still find time for things he loves, like drawing and enjoying nature. They point out a portrait Mgr Scicluna drew of the family pet, Chubby, that died two years ago.

“Sometimes, when we go out in the afternoon he would tell us the names of flowers. He loves plants and often buys some for mother,” his sisters say, as they look at each other and share a knowing smile.

They confess that, last summer, they were left in charge of watering the plants... and overdid it.

“Mushrooms grew in one,” Ms Grixti says, pointing out that they were seasonal plants that had a limited lifespan anyway.

The sisters and brother also hope his busy schedule will allow him time for his family. The fact he will continue living with their parents will help.

“There’s no one better than your parents, let’s face it. And he still can do his job,” Ms Grixti says as her father lets out another infectious chuckle: “And he finds everything ready.” Including his favourite dish: his mother’s homemade ricotta pie.

“For breakfast every morning, it’s tea and pie. When one finishes I prepare another,” Ms Scicluna says, explaining she then places it in the fridge, ready-cut in portions, one of which she takes out every morning.

This morning, after breakfast, she and her husband will be there at the Mdina cathedral to watch their son being consecrated Archbishop – to the sound of Church music.

“We will be walking behind him. This is the most beautiful thing. We thank God each and every moment,” his mother says.