The visit by Pope Francis in April could be one of the last official appointments for Archbishop Charles Scicluna before he is given a top appointment at the Vatican.

In January, The Malta Independent had reported that the possible promotion of Scicluna to a top post in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) could pave the way for his replacement as head of the church in Malta.

Last month, Pope Francis had announced changes to the set-up of the CDF, which could signal an overhaul of one of the Vatican’s most important offices, responsible for the promulgating and defence of the Catholic doctrine.

It had been reported that Scicluna could be headed to one of the CDF’s top two posts, either that of secretary, replacing Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, who moved on to take over the Reggio Emilia-Guastalla Diocese in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, or that of prefect (top post) in substitution of Cardinal Luis Ladaria.

It is now increasingly likely that Scicluna is heading for the top post, with the National Catholic Register on Tuesday reporting that Malta’s archbishop is being tipped as a possible successor to Ladaria.

Ladaria, 77, of Spain, is expected to retire soon, possibly in July, leaving Archbishop Scicluna as his likely successor in running the oldest and arguably most prestigious and important of all the Vatican congregations, responsible for safeguarding and promoting faith and morals throughout the Catholic Church, the report adds.

The CDF’s work also includes a disciplinary section responsible for investigating cases of “grave delicts,” the most serious crimes in the Church, such as those against the Eucharist and the sanctity of the sacrament of penance — and, since 2001, the sexual abuse of minors. 

The Maltese archbishop is highly-regarded in Vatican circles, having worked at the CDF for a decade as Promoter of Justice before being named as Malta’s archbishop in 2015. When in Rome in recent weeks, Scicluna had a long tête-à-tête with Pope Francis.

Scicluna has also been involved in some high-profile investigations into sexual abuse by members of the clergy, entrusted with the task personally by the pontiff.

In 2012, Scicluna was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to a renewable five-year term as a member of the CDF and, since 2018, Scicluna has served as one of two adjunct secretaries to the Congregation, a post given to him by Pope Francis.

The potential promotion to a top CDF post for Scicluna could trigger the process for his replacement in Malta.

Scicluna could still remain as head of the church in Malta while occupying the post of prefect or secretary of the CDF, but his bigger responsibilities at the Vatican could lead to him being succeeded at the Floriana Curia.

Another possibility is that Scicluna remains Archbishop for a period of time after his new appointment in Rome until a transition process for his successor is completed.

The potential nomination of Scicluna as prefect of the CDF will also give him a better chance to be appointed cardinal. Malta would then have two cardinals with voting rights for the next pope.