The Malta Diocese announced Saturday that 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 Paul Cremona 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 Gozo, 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 George Preca 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.
In October 2002, Monsignor Scicluna was nominated Promoter of Justice
at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith detailed to
investigate and prosecute the more grave crimes reserved to the
exclusive competence of the Congregation.
He has also lectured widely on issues concerning child protection in
the Church, visiting a number of local churches in Europe, Asia, Africa,
the Americas, and Australia.
Mgr Scicluna is a Visiting Lecturer in
Penal Processes at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) and helps
with chaplaincy work at the Convent of the Nuns of Saint Bridget, Piazza
Farnese and at the Venerable English College in Rome.