New Archbishop Mgr Charles Scicluna will be installed as the new head of the Church in Malta in a ceremony to be held at the Mdina Cathedral on Saturday 21 March, The Malta Independent has learnt.
This is a break from the more recent tradition, as the last two Archbishops were installed at the St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the venue of all solemn celebrations connected with the Church. The last Archbishop to be installed there was Mgr Michael Gonzi; his two successors Mgr Joseph Mercieca and Mgr Paul Cremona were both installed in Valletta.
The official announcement is expected to be made tomorrow Friday at noon, at which time all the churches in Malta are being instructed to ring the church bells as a sign of celebration.
Mgr Scicluna is to address the media at that time, and is expected to outline his plans for the Church as he officially takes over the duties Mgr Paul Cremona, who resigned last October.
In another break from tradition, the new Archbishop is not expected to reside at Attard as his predecessors did, but will be residing at Mdina.
His first meeting with all parish priests will be held on Wednesday 4 March.