The Pope appointed Qala-born Fr Mario Grech bishop of Gozo yesterday.

Mgr Grech has been parish priest of Kercem for the past year.

News of his appointment spread like wildfire in Kercem especially when he left his house at 10.30am on his way to the bishop’s office in Victoria. Bells rang, fireworks were let off and flags were hurriedly run up as people gathered around him to congratulate him.

At the bishop’s office, Mgr Grech was welcomed by the former bishop of Gozo, Mgr Nikol Cauchi and by the Nuncio’s representative, Mgr Gianluca Perici, who presented him with his letter of appointment.

Mgr Grech spontaneously knelt down and Bishop Cauchi, equally spontaneously, placed his own skullcap on Mgr Grech’s head.

Mgr Grech then thanked the Pope for appointing him and Bishop Cauchi for his “generous service” throughout his long episcopate.

He then dedicated his life to “make Christ known through his Church” and urged priests to live their priesthood with joy and faithfulness so that they can offer lay people “what they really need to be a positive force in today’s world.”

A statement by the Gozo Curia said the date of Mgr Grech’s Episcopal ordination will be announced later but some Gozo sources told this newspaper that Pope Benedict XVI would most probably ordain Mgr Grech bishop on 6 January at the Vatican.