The Bishop of Malindi in Kenya, Mons Emanuel Barbara, a Maltese national, has passed away at the age of 68 years old in his Kenyan residence.

Barbara was ordained a bishop in Kenya in 2011 and had also worked combating poverty in Africa for 26 years.

In 2013, the Pope also appointed Barbara as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mombasa.

Barbara, who studied philosophy and theology, entered the priesthood in 1974.

He served as the Vice Parish Priest of San Gwann, taught at the Gozitan Seminary, and was part of the Cana Movement.

Barbara also occupied the post of as Chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital, Rector of the Institute of Consecrated Life, and the President of the European Capuchin Conference.

The funeral will be held tomorrow morning at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta at 9.30am. It will be presided over by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna.

Another Maltese Bishop, the Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Kuwait, Monsignor Francis Adeodato Micallef also passed away this week.