VINCENZO LABINI Malta's last foreign Bishop

mong the bishops - all foreigners with the ex­ A ception of Baldassare Cagliares (see pp. 291- 3) - who led the Diocese of Malta, the figure of Mgr. Vincenzo Labini surpasses most of the others because he flourished through one of the most momentous periods of Maltese history (1780- 1807): his episco­ pate covers eighteen years of rule by the Grandmasters of the Order of St. John, the two-year occupation by the French Republic and the first seven years of the British era. ·Bishop Labini had to fight the indifference into which the elite of the Maltese had fallen on account of the influence of Freemasonry and Freethinking and had to toil hard and incessantly in order to instil into the hearts of the Maltese a deeply felt and active religious spirit. Indeed, he showed himself an able diplomat and a subtle politician by following a practical line of conduct and a policy of adaptation with the reforms and counter-reforms which the new rulers decided to introduce at that time in Malta. The Episcopal See of Malta became vacant in 1780 when the Diocesan Bishop, Mgr. Carmine Giovanni Pellerano, afflicted by old age and infirmity, sub­ mitted his resignation or rinuncia for the Bishopric of Malta. Under the circumstances, the Grandmaster Emanuel De Rohan (1775 - 1797) lost no time in making representations to the Supreme Pontiff to appoint a successor to Pellerano. Vincenzo Labini - his candidature was the result of "direct interference from the Courts of Rome and Naples". The Order It would be recalled that when Emperor Charles V was left with no choice of its own. His episcopate coincided with of Aragon ceded Malta as a fief to the knights in the most momentous periods of the late eighteenth century and 1530, it was expressly laid down that the Emperor early nineteenth, when the aristocratic Order of St. John lost its and his successors, as Kings of Sicily, should select hold of Malta, the republican French were hardly ever accepted by the Maltese and were eventually openly replaced by the monarchical the Bishop of Malta from amongst three candidates British imperialists. Yet he won the support of the three domina­ to be nominated for that purpose by the grandmaster. tions as a result of his constant vigila,nce as pastor and spiritual One of the nominees, as chosen by the grandmaster leader of his diocese. (Photo credit: Michael Galea) and his council, had to be a subject of His Sicilian Majesty. When the Grandmaster convened a meeting of the The candidature of Mgr. Labini seems to have Council to deal with that matter, it was with "justified been an exception, in that there was " direct interfer­ indignation" that the Grandmaster gave in to the ence from the Courts of Rome and Naples, which wishes of the King of Naples and the Holy See, for it induced the Grandmaster and his Council to choose was made clear that they would only accept the an individual suggested to them from outside." nomination of the Conventional Chaplain Fra

611 Vincenzo Labini. The Order was presented with afait accompli! The two other candidates as proposed by the Grandmaster and the Council were Fra Raimondus Albin us Men ville and Fra Francesco Silvestri. King Ferdinand IV of Sicily recommended Labini to Pope Pius VI. On June 19th, 1780 the Pope duly appointed the prelate Labini Bishop of Malta. Mgr. Vincenzo Labini was ·born in Bitonto (near Bari) in 1735. He hailed from an ancient noble family. He was ordained priest in the Theatine Order at St. John Lateran in Rome in September 1758 by the Patriarch of Alexandria, Mgr. Francesco Mattei. Labini was well versed in belles lett res, and distin­ guished himself for his powerful and incisive skill as an orator. He taught Canon Law and Theology in the seminary of Capua. Following his episcopal consecration in June 1780 in the church of San Giovanni Fiorentino in Rome, Bishop Labini addressed his first Pastoral Letter to his diocese. That paternal letter, because of its deep teaching and doctrine and profound sentiments, may well be considered to have constituted the programme of the episcopate of Mgr. Labini. Mgr. Labini arrived in Malta .on September 7th, 1780, on board the S. Luigi, a galley belonging to the Order's squadron. A large crowd greeted him when he landed in Valletta. The four cities gracing the harbour were in a festive mood in honour of the new pastor. After boarding a carriage which was drawn by two horses, the Bishop proceeded to the church of St. The 1798- Pastoral letter by Archbishop La bini, addressed to the Maltese, was of great importance in view of the difficult circum­ Paul Shipwrecked where a Te Deum was sung. stances the French administrati on of Malta was creating. The Bishop paid courtesy visits on the Grand­ (Photo credit: Michael Galea) master De Rohan and the Inquisitor, Mgr. Anthony Felix Chigi Zondadari. He soon introduced important reforms in the The solemn installation of Mgr. La bini as Bishop diocesan seminary, and saw to the proper education of Malta took place on October 8th, 1780. According of those called to the priesthood. During his epis­ to a 17th-century tradition the Bishop was to stay copate he constructed not less than twenty-nine overnight with the Dominican Fathers at their Priory churches and monasteries. Besides the Cathedral at Rabat. The idea was that the Bishop - in those Chapter, other Chapters, styled "Collegiate days when travelling was slow and cumbersome - Chapters" were founded in some parishes of Malta would be close to Notabile for his solemn entry on and Gozo. Thus, during the episcopate of Mgr. the morrow. But Bishop Labini did not follow this Labini a Collegiate Chapter in the parish church of tradition: in fact, early on the appointed day, he left Senglea was founded in 1786. In 1804 he laid the his residence in Valletta on his way to St. Mark foundation stone of the new Dominican church in Priory of the Augustinian Fathers at Rabat; thence Valletta. the procession started its way to Notabile. In 1797 through the initiative of Bishop Labini, The reason for doing so was to shorten the way to Pope Pius VI elevated the Maltese Diocese to a the Notables, who were to accompany the Bishop in higher ecclesiastical dignity by adding the Titular the cortege. Archbishopric of Rhodes, which at that time was in On taking up office Mgr. La bini found the Church partibus infidelium (this title continued up to 1928 administration in a chaotic state. However, the moral when the Holy See restored the residential arch­ state of the clergy was most praiseworthy and com­ diocese of Rhodes). Jointly with the title of Arch­ mev.dable, and the religious state of the diocese was bishop of Rhodes, the Bishop received the rights and not as bad as it wsa previously reported to him. privileges vested in archbishops, namely to wear the

612 Pallium and to have a cross borne immediately in lived. In fact the French capitulated on September front of him in all processions. 5th, 1800. Mgr. Labini was Bishop of Malta at a time when Bishop Labini held eight Pastoral Visitations. In the Island witnessed and experienced three forms of those days, when means of communications were government, all in rapid succession: from a declining slow and difficult, periodic pastoral visitations by the aristocratic government of the Order to a Republican bishop were an important part of the episcopal Government under the French, and subsequently to a office. Bishop Labini's many good deeds included his monarchical Government under the British. Under unfailing support to the 17th-century institutions: the all three dominations Mgr. Labini won the support Ospizio Saura and the Conservatorio delle Zitelle - of the civil authorities as a result of his constant the former being a home for the poor and the aged, vigilance as pastor and spiritual leader of his diocese. and the latter an establishment for the civic and News of the political events, which were taking moral education of orphan girls. place in France, were received with great apprehen­ On April 30th, 1807, as he was saying prayers in sion in Malta. There were also reports of widespread preparation for Mass, Bishop Labini was taken persecution against the Catholic Church. By suddenly ill: he suffered an acute attack of apoplexy September 1797 the French Directory had decided on and succumbed to a heart failure. He was 72 years an expedition under the command of Napoleon old. Bonaparte with the aim of conquering Egypt. It was During the solemn Mass de Requie, which was also planned that on its way the French fleet was to celebrated at St. John's Church the funeral oration take possession of Malta. was delivered by Fra Prospero Xuereb, an The French fleet was sighted off Malta on June Augustinian Friar and a Commendatore of the Order 8th, 1798. The French troops soon put into action of St. John. simultaneous landings at various points of the The coffin was later conveyed to the Cathedral coastline. Church at Notabile. Bishop Labini was laid to rest in It soon became evident that the French Govern­ a tomb situated in the chapel in the left transept of ment was high-handedly interfering in religious the church and dedicated to The Annunciation. A matters, and depriving the Maltese of their ancient marble slab, simple in style and containing few and old-established rights and privileges. The Erastian ornaments, together with the coat-of-arms of the policy followed by the Republican Government in an Bishop's family, seals the tomb. eminently Catholic country was doomed to end in The Bishop had in his lifetime entrusted the trouble. Maltese Latinist Fra Gioacchino Navarro, who was Against this background, Bishop Labini addressed well versed in the writing of epitaphs, to compose the a Pastoral Letter to his people. The Letter, dated memorial inscription for his tomb, which was then August 13th, 1798, was of momentous importance, being prepared. That literary scholar faithfully in view of the difficult circumstances in which it was recorded and extolled the pious zeal and virtues, published. which had so distinguished the prelate Labini. The "We cannot hide from ourselves the fact that we Bishop, inspired by his outstanding humility, on his also have felt some uneasiness in reading certain own initiative revised the text, to what it now actually notices issued by the Government." reads. It is historically proved that Bishop Labini raised On October 7th, 1803, Bishop Labini drew up in loud protests against Napoleon's anti-Catholic legis­ his own handwriting his last will and testament which lation. In the moment of trial, the Bishop moved included a number of pious legacies in favour of permanently to Valletta to be nearer to his flock, charitable institutions in Malta and Gozo. which was in greater danger within the blockaded The Archdeacon of the Cathedral Chapter, Don city. Giuseppe Bartholmeo Xerri, was appointed to offi­ The insurgent Maltese soon concocted a conspiracy ciate as Head of the Church during the vacancy of against the French. But the insurrection was pre­ the episcopal See. maturely discovered. The French command reacted Bishop Vincenzo Labini was the last of Malta's strongly: several arrests were made, whilst the ring­ bishops not to be a native of the Island. His imme­ leaders were executed by firing squad. Among those diate successor was Mgr. Ferdinand Mattei, Bishop condemned to death there was Father Michele Xerri, of Paphos in partibus infide/ium, who was born in an erudite priest. Bishop Labini pleaded with the Senglea. The nomination of Mgr. Mattei as Bishop French Authorities that those condemned to death be of Malta in September 1807 marked the beginning of allowed to receive the last Rites. On the day Fr. an uninterrupted line of Maltese-born bishops for the Michele Xerri was executed, Bishop Labini had Diocese.of Malta. visited him in his cell, and gave him his blessing. The occupation by the French Republic was short- Michael Galea

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