Bishop Charles J Scicluna made a courtesy call on Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this morning.

The call, at the Opposition room of the Palace in Valletta, came five days before Mgr Scicluna is formally installed as Archbishop of Malta. The ceremony will be held on Saturday morning at the Cathedral in Mdina.

Mgr Scicluna a few days ago formally called on the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker.

Dr Busuttil wished Mgr Scicluna a long and fruitful episcopate. He said he had had the privilege of having got to know him over the years and found him to be a man of extraordinary intelligence and charisma.

He said that Mgr Sciucluna and himself had somewhat similar roles in that while the bishop was working to rebuild and strengthen the church’s ties with the people, he was was working to rebuild a political party.

He said the PN had Christian roots but the party had a distinct role from the Church and it was not a confessional party.

Mgr Scicluna underlined the role of the Opposition as a guarantee of freedom in a democratic society. He said the Church and politicians must work together for the common good, such as human rights and safeguarding the environment.