Archbishop Charles Scicluna testified as a witness in a case between the developers of land in Gozo, and a family whose land title they are challenging.

The developers are connected to a 17th century feudal foundation, the Abbazia di Sant Antonio degli Navarra, whose heirs today claim are rightful owners to swathes of land in Qala and Nadur.

The Abbazia, defined as a ‘lay benefice’, was set up as a foundation to hold the lands for heirs of the noblewoman Cosmana Navarra.

The Stagno Navarra family, who claim they are heirs to the Abbazia, secured control of the foundation by paying off the Maltese Catholic Church an initial sum of €200,000 despite 20 years of legal challenges to the late Richard Stagno Navarra’s claim.

When asked whether he stands by his decision, the Archbishop said: "The decision of church does not have an effect on what happens to the land, as that is the responsibility of the state and courts".

He also claimed that he was not aware that the land was to be acquired for development purposes.

The court case is being presented by the Abbazia’s ‘rector’, the lawyer Peter Valentino, on behalf of the Stagno Navarras and their partners judge Dennis Montebello and former Gozo curia lawyer Carmelo Galea.

The Archbishop was met by protestors also affected by the controversy surrounding the medieval foundation outside court.