Mgr Philip Calleja, a prominent member of the Church for many years, has passed away at the age of 93.

Calleja, who was born on 8 December 1928 in Valletta, died in the early hours of this morning, at 3:45am at the Dar tal-Kleru in Fleur de Lys.

Calleja was ordained as a priest on 2 August 1953, and for around 50 years was the director of the Emigrants Commission, which was founded in 1950 within the Catholic Action because of the exodus of Maltese towards other countries.

His death was announced by the Emigrants' Commission.

"Mgr Philip Calleja, the priest for Maltese emigrants and refugees in Malta, passed away this morning," the commission said.

"We pray for his repose and thank God for his service and zeal for those uprooted from their home," it added.

The Curia said in a statement that Calleja offered assistance to people who were thinking of moving abroad, and soon then also offered concrete assistance to refugees and immigrants who were coming to Malta.