6th October, 2012 111/2012

APPOINTMENT OF AUXILIARY BISHOP OF

The Holy Father Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta nominating him Titular Bishop of San Leone. As Auxiliary Bishop, His Lordship Monsignor Scicluna, 53, will be called to be the closest collaborator and advisor of His Grace Archbishop O.P. with leadership responsibilities in the Curia and in diocesan pastoral ministry. On his Episcopal ordination on 24 November 2012, Monsignor Scicluna will become a member of the Maltese Episcopal Conference alongside the Archbishop and the Bishop of , His Lordship Monsignor Mario Grech.

Canadian-born Monsignor Scicluna was educated in Malta and graduated Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 1984. He was ordained priest in 1986 by now Emeritus Archbishop, His Grace Monsignor Joseph Mercieca. Monsignor Scicluna graduated Doctor in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, in 1991 and then served the Church in Malta on the Metropolitan Tribunal and in a number of parishes, including his home parish of Lija. For the last 17 years he has served the Universal Church, working in the Vatican on the most challenging of cases under the leadership of Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. Monsignor Scicluna is a renowned expert in Canon Law, highly respected among his peers around the world for his lecturing skills and his expertise in child protection issues. He is well loved for his amiable personality and for his sense of fairness. The Maltese public would remember his work in favour of the canonization of Saint between 1996 and 2007. The Holy Father has now called Monsignor Scicluna to the college of bishops with the mission to work for the Church in Malta under the leadership of Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P.

Archbishop’s Curia, St Calcedonius Square, Floriana, FRN 1535, Malta. Tel. (356)21241281. Url: www.maltadiocese.org