Emanuel Scicluna, the Archbishop's father, passed away early this morning in a Rome hospital, the Curia said. He was 85.

He is also survived by his wife Maria Carmela and their children  Monica, Josette, Jesmond.

Funeral details will be announced later in the day.

Mr Scicluna, clearly the source of the Archbishop's renowned good humour, spoke about his experiences to Times of Malta when Mgr Scicluna was appointed bishop.

He said that once, he was painting his house’s internal doors when his son, who was helping him, started playing a cassette of what sounded to him like music sung by nuns in a convent. 

“When the cassette finished he played it again. I said nothing. It finished again and he played it 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 said, chuckling at the memory. 

He recalled how his son always wanted to be an altar boy but he did not allow him since he didn’t want him to get distracted from his schoolwork. Later in life he found the irony hilarious. 

“When Charles was young I had got him wood to make an altar. Then he found a set of candlestick holders and pretended to celebrate Mass…

“I think the inclination was always there. When he was 11 he took my elderly mother to church and read during the Mass and even sang.” 

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and Speaker Anglu Farrugia expressed condolences.

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