H.L. Mgr Guzeppi Mercieca, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, passed away at 7.20am this morning. His death was announced in a tweet by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

In 2012 the Archbishop, who was born in Victoria, Gozo, celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.Mgr Mercieca was ordained by the then Bishop of Gozo Mgr Guzeppi Pace at St James' Church in Victoria on the 8th of March 1952, together with another priest from the parish, Dun Saver Calleja, today Primicerius of the Collegiate Chapter. He then celebrated his first Solemn High Mass at St George's; he was only twenty-three years old when he was ordained, thus needing a special dispensation from Rome for his ordination.

Guzeppi Mercieca was born at his parents' house in Providence Street, around the corner from St George's parish church, in Victoria, on the 11th of November 1928. He attended the Government's Primary School in Victoria and then entered the Diocesan Seminary where he began his studies which were to lead him to the priesthood.

He later served as rector of the Gozo Major Seminary between 1958 and 1969 and on the 20th of July 1974 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Malta and nominated Titular Bishop of Gemellæ in Numidia. On the 29th of November 1976 he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta, succeeding Mgr Sir Michael Gonzi. The bishop-consecrators at his ordination for the episcopate were Mgr Michael Gonzi, Mgr Nicholas J. Cauchi and Bishop Francesco Ricceri. He headed the church until 2006.

Photo: Mgr Guzeppi Mercieca, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, presided over a Pontifical Concelebration at St George's Parish

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