The Vatican announced yesterday that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Malindi in Kenya Fr Emmanuel Barbara, provincial of the Capuchins in Malta and president of the European Capuchin Conference.

Emanuel Barbara was born in Gżira on 27 October 1949 and on 19 September 1965 entered the Capuchin novitiate, taking his first religious vows on 26 September 1966. After finishing his studies in Malta he was ordained deacon on 5 August 1973 and priest on 20 July 1974 at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Malta.