The late Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca was a pastor who preferred to stay away from the limelight. Even at the very height of the Church schools issue in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he would shun any direct questions by the press he would consider could fuel the fire though he always had an answer.

He was evidently determined he would do everything in his power to avoid another politico-religious dispute.

Many must have considered him weak, giving in to an arrogant government but those close to him insist he was well aware of what he was doing and where he wanted to arrive.

His stance had a particular background. Over and above his personal character of preferring to keep a low profile, at times sensitive and delicate Church-State negotiations demanded prudence and very careful handling. Moreover, during the most crucial years of his episcopal ministry, he was forced to do some tightrope walking in an arena sometimes dominated by cruel misinterpretations of why he was acting theway he did.

Throughout, his humanity was very evident. He was approachable and unassuming and always cared about the views, feelings and needs of others, whoever they may be and whatever their background. All along, he was always careful to avoid being dragged into public controversy or confrontation, especially of a political nature. Yet, his pastoral letters and speeches were quite forthright and to the point, incisive and thought-provoking.

Between the lines one could find the answers people would have been demanding from the Church leaders. A good read of his speeches – many of his pronouncements are published in the series of annual publications entitled Minn Fomm ir-Ragħaj – would show that Mgr Mercieca, who had succeeded Archbishop Michael Gonzi, who had his fair share of controversies, was not really the silent prelate certain people made him out to be.

Mgr Mercieca was conscious that, along with those who admired his determination to steer away from public arguments and confrontation, deeming it a strong point, were also others who considered it a sign of weakness. Yet, he was convinced he was doing the right thing, especially in the light of the strong political polarisation that prevailed at the time.

When he took over as Archbishop, in 1976, the Church in Malta was still suffering from clashes of the past. His problems with the State on Church-related matters started the same month he became Archbishop.

He would have ugly, sometimes very ugly, experiences. Still, whatever the challenge, he continued to strive towards bringing down the walls of division. Pope John Paul II himself publicly recognised the situation when, in the first address he had made when he visited Malta in 1990, he said: “I am well aware that the Church in Malta is called to exercise her pastoral mission in a social and cultural situation which under certain aspects presents difficulties. In this context it is clear that the Church must be above all ‘the house of God’ in which his family dwells and where the members of the family, while enjoying the rightful freedom of the children of God, are united in the bonds of faith and love...”

The Pope had also echoed the fears of many when he said: “Furthermore, it cannot be denied that today your country is faced with ever increasing new problems. Your venerable traditions and your society are being subjected to the allurements of a secularised culture which has engulfed so much of the world.”

Till the very end, Mgr Mercieca exercised the pastoral mission the Pope spoke about.