News • January 11 2004

Archbishop will stay on

Two months have passed since Archbishop Joseph Mercieca submitted his resignation to the Vatican, but there is no sign yet as to who could possibly be his replacement. According to at least one priest, Fr Joe Inguanez, who heads the Church’s research institute (Discern) the sign will probably never come.
In a wide ranging interview with MaltaToday, Fr Inguanez doubts the Vatican will accept Mons. Mercieca’s resignation.
“I believe there has to be a change in the leadership of the Maltese church but it is something which, I believe, will not happen,” Fr Inguanez told this newspaper.
He refrained from expanding on the theme but added he had reached this conclusion one and a half years ago. “Archbishop Mercieca’s resignation will not be accepted by the Vatican,” Fr Inguanez said.