Gozo Bishop Mario Grech set up a foundation in honour of Gozo's longest-serving bishop, Nikol Cauchi, who celebrated his 80th birthday last Monday. The announcement was made at the end of a Thanksgiving Mass at the Gozo Cathedral last Sunday.

Mgr Grech said the aim of the foundation was to promote dialogue between the Christian faith and culture through socio-cultural and religious initiatives.

"His bishopric is indeed one long chronicle of such inventiveness," Mgr Grech said.

He also said Mgr Cauchi had contributed to such dialogue through his words, writings, and pastoral initiatives.

The Church believed in such dialogue because the Bible shed a realistic light on all humanity and, without each another, both faith and culture were incomplete, Mgr Grech said.

Concelebrating Mass with Mgr Cauchi were Mgr Grech, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca and more than 80 priests.

Present for the celebration were Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, PL Deputy Leader Anglu Farrugia, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said and Nationalist Party MP Frederick Azzopardi. Archpriest Tarcisju Camilleri, secretary of the College of parish priests, presented the first donation of €2,000 to the new foundation on behalf of the diocese and parishes. The previous day, Mgr Grech, hosted Mgr Cauchi to dinner which was attended by a large number of priests.

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