Archbishop Elect Charles Scicluna is keen to reassure those who fear him that he “does not bite”; on the contrary, he welcomes dialogue and criticism.

“I am a person who listens and who doesn’t mind being criticised... I have learnt that people who criticise you in an intelligent way do you good, while those who criticise you maliciously help you to be humble. So criticism is welcome,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta.

In his first newspaper interview, Mgr Scicluna admitted that he wanted to become Archbishop, and had battled to restrain emotions of presumption and ambition.

“We all have these desires and some emanate from egoism or narcissism; others are inspired by God. But you only know it’s a vocation when you wouldn’t have done anything to force the issue,” he said, when asked if this post had been his lifelong ambition.

The official announcement that the 55-year-old will be taking canonical possession of the Maltese diocese on March 21 was made on Friday, but Mgr Scicluna was actually given the news last Sunday.

As he was preparing to celebrate evening Mass at Żabbar, after a Lenten pilgrimage, Mgr Scicluna found three missed calls from Apostolic Nuncio Aldo Cavalli.

He immediately knew something urgent had cropped up.

His mind racing with thoughts, he had to concentrate on the sacrament, until he called at the Nunciature in Tal-Virtù at 7.30pm. At that point he had no idea whether the nuncio would be softening the blow by informing him personally that “XYZ had been appointed” or whether he himself would be Malta’s new archbishop.

On learning the news, he said, a “great peace invaded me” and after writing a handwritten letter of acceptance in Italian to the Pope, Mgr Scicluna asked if he could share the secret with his parents.

Mario Grech and I are two different characters, but we have a good working relationship

“Mama and papa were very pleased; we cried together. Those are the intimate moments you will never forget,” he said.

“I feel better now. The strain of keeping the pontifical secret is quite big, especially when you really need to share the news and start thinking about what the role actually means in your life.”

Mgr Scicluna is quick to point out that he could not bring about change on his own – “we have to do it together as a Church”.

Archbishop Elect Charles Scicluna.

Asked about relations between the dioceses of Malta and Gozo, which are rumoured to be rocky, Mgr Scicluna smiled and said: “I think [Gozo Bishop Mario] Grech and I are two different characters, but we have a good working relationship.” He added: “A mutual friend advised us to go into a room on our own and have a good argument when we don’t agree, but then come out with a common stand. That’s very good advice.”

Mgr Scicluna said he had found that when the two met on a personal level, the chemistry was different and he would be working to ensure closer relations.

On Thursday, in fact, he will be crossing the channel to greet Mgr Grech and visit the shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. Asked to point out the differences in character, Mgr Scicluna shrugged and simply said the two were just “different”.

“Mario has been bishop since 2006, so there’s a lot of experience but he’s Gozitan and I’m Maltese. And I think people on the islands know exactly what I mean and we don’t know how to explain the difference,” he said with a smile.

Delving on the need to revamp the stuffy image of the Curia, Mgr Scicluna spoke about how it was “overburdened with lots of layers, like a sacred onion”.

He acknowledged that in the same way Pope Francis was rattling people out of their comfort zones with his roadmap for Curia reform, he could face similar resistance.

A known admirer of Pope Emeritus Benedict, having worked with him at the Vatican, was Mgr Scicluna more likely to emulate his style or that of Pope Francis, who shed the papacy’s rich trimmings?

“I’m trying to find my style. I’m feeling less comfortable with gaudy liturgical vestments,” he said.

“When I see pictures of myself in traditional vestments I’m feeling more and more uncomfortable, so you may find that Charles Scicluna matures in his Episcopal wardrobe.”

However, he also appreciated the numerous traditions that came with the title and extravagant vestments associated with village feasts so he would have to strike a balance between being respectful and making a statement. But apart from the difference in vestments between Pope Benedict, who had a penchant for red loafers and Pope Francis who chose simple black workman’s shoes, what style of leadership did Mgr Scicluna prefer?

“I’m not going to copy Francis because I’m not Francis, and I’m not going to copy Benedict because I’m not Benedict; I am myself and I will have to develop myself as Archbishop.”