Update 2 | Prime Minister praises ‘humble’ Cremona for keeping Church out of partisan politics

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat praised the effect outgoing Archbishop Paul Cremona had on the Maltese Church.

“There isn’t a grain of doubt that Cremona’s leadership had a positive effect on the Maltese Church,” Muscat said. “His humility and the simplicity with which he used to explain things brought him thousands of followers. At the same time, his words had a high intellectual value that allowed people to reflect on them.”

Muscat also praised Cremona for keeping the Church out of partisan politics. 

“While the Church under Cremona intervened in important public debates, he wisely kept it out of partisan politics,” Muscat said. “I hope his successor walks down this same path, a path that helps bring national unity.”

“The change in leadership of the Maltese Church has come at a significant moment for the Catholic Church around the world, where the Synod is discussing families, giving hope to many people," Muscat added  

This came following the Curia's announcemenmt that the Vatican had accepted a request by Archbishop Paul Cremona to resign. Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna will now take over the running of the church while the Holy See chooses a successor.

Cremona addressed a press conference at the Curia this morning, during which the Apostolic Nuncio Aldo Cavalli revealed that the Vatican had accepted Scicluna's resignation, which comes into effect today at noon.

Cavalli explained that the process for Cremona's succession could take some five months.

Cremona, who will now acquire the title of Emeritus Archbishop, confirmed that he had resigned for health reasons.

He said that he sent the resignation letter to Pope Francis a few weeks ago, adding that the decision was taken because of his “deteriorating” health conditions.

Cremona, who has been at the helm of the Maltese church for eight years, said: “The time is now ripe for somebody else to lead the church in my stead. I am at peace with the Lord and with my conscience."

Pope Francis met the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Oullet, to discuss the request of Archbishop Paul Cremona to tender his resignation, yesterday.

The request by the 68-year-old archbishop came at a time when the Maltese Catholic Church’s leadership faces immense pressure to regain its voice in the community.

A Vatican source told MaltaToday that the Roman Catholic pontiff, who meets Canadian cardinal Oullet every month, would have discussed the resignation request.

In reaction to the news, the Labour Party thanked Cremona “for all he has done for the country” during his eight year stint at the head of the church.

“Cremona’s qualities and character will unquestionably remain in the people’s hearts and minds, a man who led with sincerity and humility, not only the church but the whole country in its spiritual voyage,” the Labour Party said.

It added that Cremona won the admiration of many in his attempts to bring the Maltese people closer to the church in his temperate and cautious manner.

PN leader Simon Busuttil also thanked the outgoing Archbishop and praised Cremona for his “integrity and honesty.”

“His decision in these difficult times is a courageous one. Cremona’s admission that he could no longer carry out his duties is admirable,” the PN leader said.

Scicluna to administer the church

“The Vatican is treating this resignation request with urgency, so the Pope has no doubt considered to accept it. Malta is definitely be on Francis’s and Oullet’s agenda, and that means that the resignation request is now under consideration, if not accepted,” the source said on Friday.

On Friday evening, the Catholic Church-owned website newsbook.com.mt reported that Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna – formerly the Vatican’s prosecutor against clerical sex abuse – had been entrusted with the administration of the Maltese church.

A promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Scicluna, a lawyer, could well be one of three candidates whose name will appear in a shortlist of successors for Pope Francis to consider.

The other could Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

It will be Apostolic Nuncio Aldo Cavalli, the Holy See’s envoy to Malta, who will submit the ‘terna’ of names who could be Malta’s next archbishop.

The qualities that a candidate must have are listed in canon 378 §1 of the Code of Canon Law: as well as being at least 35 years old and a priest for at least 5 years, he should be “outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues”, and should possess the other qualities needed for fulfilling the office in question; and he should be well versed in sacred Scripture, theology and canon law and, preferably, hold a doctorate in one of these fields.

It will be the Congregation for Bishops that studies the documentation provided by the nuncio, taking into consideration his opinion, but not necessarily accepting it. Their conclusions will be sent to the pope, asking him to make the appointment.

Cremona was appointed archbishop in 2007, a day after his 61th birthday. His episcopate was replete with challenges brought on by a changing society that hollowed out the influence of the Maltese Catholic Church: religious indifference and dwindling church attendance, the 2011 referendum on divorce which the Church spent much energy on countering; and finally the introduction of civil unions for gay people and complementary adoption rights, which entered into force in 2013 with a church barely raising a whimper.