The Catholic Church might not enjoy the support it had in the past but it still plays an important role in Maltese society. And that is why Archbishop Charles Scicluna was yesterday greeted warmly as the new leader of the Church in Malta.

He is taking over the baton from Mgr Paul Cremona in not the easiest of times.

The 55-year-old must try to understand why the Church is facing declining attendance figures, growing religious indifference and a more secular society.

It is a time when different family models are shaping up, and there is a poor rapport between the Church and much of the younger generation who cannot associate with the stuffy bureaucratic image of the Curia.

It is welcome that Mgr Scicluna used his first press conference since his nomination as Malta’s Archbishop last month to stress that a reform of the Curia is high on his agenda.

He also pointed out that reports had been drafted by experts on a review of the Maltese Church’s top personnel, which he will be looking into.

We hope that a fresh injection of more open-minded personnel will take place under this new Archbishop.

The Catholic Church under Pope Francis is changing and becoming more inclusive, and the appointment of Archbishop Scicluna could well turn out to be a case of having the right person at the right time.

Last year’s synod of bishops at the Vatican, which discussed family matters, called upon the Church to listen more, to respect people in their various struggles and to apply mercy much more widely.

Mgr Scicluna must do his utmost to make the Church more relevant and adapt to the increasingly secular aspect of Maltese society, without, of course, deviating from the Church’s fundamental principles or doctrine.

The new Archbishop, however, must also not be afraid to challenge governments on their policies should he believe they could be detrimental to the country.

The Church has the right, and the duty, to speak out on social and economic issues such the protection of minorities, workers’ rights, the family, protection of life, a fair distribution of wealth, religious freedom and justice.

It is encouraging to see him already talking about the importance of the environment. Mgr Scicluna is an excellent communicator, and he must use his profile to tackle the worrying extent of racism in our country.

The Church has to be at the forefront in promoting integration and warning against stereotypes.

He is a man of great intelligence and will undoubtedly ensure that the voice of the Church is loud and clear.

But he also needs to take the cue from Pope Francis and ditch the pomp and ceremonies long associated with Church hierarchy.

After all, Mgr Scicluna can rely on his impressive background. He has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta and was recently appointed by Pope Francis to head a Vatican college that considers appeals moved before the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith related to serious offences by priests. He also served under Pope Benedict as Promoter of Justice.

Mgr Scicluna is well respected in global Church circles, and we have no doubt that he will continue to contribute to the Catholic Church’s development over the years to come.

Having him as Archbishop of Malta is a big gain for Malta and we wish him every success in his new role.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.