The Council of Trent and the choice of Bishops of Malta

Abstract

This article illustrates the history of the appointment of Bishops to the Maltese diocese. The Council of Trent did not interfere with the appointment of Bishops through Sovereigns and Princes. Pope Gregory XIV decided that a special board of clerics was to approve the promotion of Bishops. However, the Sovereigns right still persisted as was the case of Malta. During the 16th century, when Malta formed part of the Kingdom of Sicily, the current king had the right to appoint a bishop of his choice. This right was continued even when Malta was under the Knight's rule; three candidates were brought forward with the catch that one of them had to be a subject of the Kingdom of Sicily. This right was taken over in an informal way under the British, where even though they could put forward their nominations to the Holy See, it was up to the Pope to decide who will be the next Bishop/Archbishop of Malta.