New auxiliary bishop offers ‘life’s service’ to Archbishop [SLIDESHOW]

Minutes after arriving in Malta from his former sojourn in Rome, new Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Charles Scicluna delivered a brief statement to the media where he expressed his happiness at being back in Malta to begin his work alongside Archbishop Paul Cremona.

"I wish to express my happiness at being back in Malta to begin my mission alongside the Archbishop of Malta," Scicluna said. "I pledge to give my life's work to him."

Mgr Scicluna however did not take questions from the media.

Mgr Scicluna's appointment as auxiliary bishop in Malta stoked considerable speculation, as sectors of the Italian press ruminated over a possible 'demotion' in the decision to have Mgr Scicluna appointed auxiliary bishop, after the 53-year-old prelate conducted the Vatican's most assiduous of prosecutions against paedophile clerics.